Meta’s popular texting app WhatsApp is breaking the silence on Paragon Solutions spyware which is a known software maker for hacking owned by Israel.
The platform shared how it believed there was strong evidence to suggest that the Israeli spyware targeted hundreds of journalists and leading civil society members through this platform. The app that comes under the ownership of Meta mentioned how all those at risk were provided with alerts on a timely basis that their devices could soon be breached by this software.
Speaking to media outlet The Guardian, WhatsApp shared how it had strong evidence to prove 90 were targeted and their devices were hacked. For now, it’s not exactly clear who the exact people are behind this kind of attack.
Remember, similar to other makers of spyware, Paragon is utilized by clients in the government, and the app couldn’t identify anyone who ordered these attacks. As per experts, it was designed to carry out a zero-click maneuver which means the target doesn’t have to click on links to get infected.
The app failed to delineate more on which journalists were involved and which members of the civil society it was linked to. This entails if they were based in America. As per records. Paragon does have offices in the US and also went under the radar for entering a major $2M contract with the American Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a security investigation.
The company also failed to comment on who those journalists were and who the members of society happened to be. As a whole, the division issued top-of-the-line orders for contracts to see if it was complying with Biden’s executive orders that hindered using spyware by the federal government.
We’ve already seen plenty of such orders get revoked by Donald Trump in his first two weeks of being in charge. However, it’s interesting that this clause prohibiting the use of spyware that poses risks to national security continues to take effect.
As per the company, Paragon did share a cease and desist letter about exploring more legal actions. For now, Whatsapp explained how the attacks were disrupted last month, but it’s not clear for how long those targets were threatened by this move.
Meta is now busy alerting victims of this alleged hacking crime. The app confirmed they are personally reaching out to anyone impacted and hope the accused are held accountable for their behavior.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Sam Altman Admits OpenAI’s Closed Strategy Is Flawed as DeepSeek Disrupts AI Market
The platform shared how it believed there was strong evidence to suggest that the Israeli spyware targeted hundreds of journalists and leading civil society members through this platform. The app that comes under the ownership of Meta mentioned how all those at risk were provided with alerts on a timely basis that their devices could soon be breached by this software.
Speaking to media outlet The Guardian, WhatsApp shared how it had strong evidence to prove 90 were targeted and their devices were hacked. For now, it’s not exactly clear who the exact people are behind this kind of attack.
Remember, similar to other makers of spyware, Paragon is utilized by clients in the government, and the app couldn’t identify anyone who ordered these attacks. As per experts, it was designed to carry out a zero-click maneuver which means the target doesn’t have to click on links to get infected.
The app failed to delineate more on which journalists were involved and which members of the civil society it was linked to. This entails if they were based in America. As per records. Paragon does have offices in the US and also went under the radar for entering a major $2M contract with the American Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a security investigation.
The company also failed to comment on who those journalists were and who the members of society happened to be. As a whole, the division issued top-of-the-line orders for contracts to see if it was complying with Biden’s executive orders that hindered using spyware by the federal government.
We’ve already seen plenty of such orders get revoked by Donald Trump in his first two weeks of being in charge. However, it’s interesting that this clause prohibiting the use of spyware that poses risks to national security continues to take effect.
As per the company, Paragon did share a cease and desist letter about exploring more legal actions. For now, Whatsapp explained how the attacks were disrupted last month, but it’s not clear for how long those targets were threatened by this move.
Meta is now busy alerting victims of this alleged hacking crime. The app confirmed they are personally reaching out to anyone impacted and hope the accused are held accountable for their behavior.
Read next: Sam Altman Admits OpenAI’s Closed Strategy Is Flawed as DeepSeek Disrupts AI Market
