Article Summary
Hey everyone! Did you hear about the latest breach attempt on WhatsApp? The platform successfully thwarted a major cyberattack targeting around 90 people, including journalists and civil society activists! Guess what? The attack is linked to Paragon, an Israeli spy software company. The hackers used malicious PDF files sent through WhatsApp groups to hack devices. But fear not; WhatsApp launched a security update to block the attack and contacted affected users directly. They've also sent a legal notice to Paragon demanding a halt to their unlawful activities. Now, here's the burning question: Will Paragon face justice for their deeds? John Scott-Railton from Citizen Lab is on the case, investigating the implications. Paragon tried staying out of the limelight, yet here we are! They recently signed a contract with ICE, but what does that mean for their future operations? What do you think, will they get the punishment they deserve? Let us know in the comments!

WhatsApp announced that it has disrupted a major hacking campaign that targeted approximately 90 people. Among them were journalists and civil society activists. This was stated by the official spokesperson for WhatsApp to TechCrunch. The spokesperson confirmed that the hacking campaign is linked to the Israeli company Paragon, which specializes in spyware. It is worth noting that the Israeli company is under the acquisition of an American investment firm known as AE Industrial. Here are all the details of the incident in the following paragraphs, God willing.

From iPhoneIslam.com, a digital illustration depicting the green WhatsApp logo with the word “hacked” above it, on a red background containing circle patterns and warning symbols, indicating spyware and digital vulnerabilities.

Israeli spy company launches hacking campaign on WhatsApp platform

WhatsApp spokesperson Zaid Al-Sawah said the platform has been in direct contact with some of the individuals it believes were affected by the attack. He added that the attack is yet another example of why spyware companies should be held accountable for such illegal actions. He reiterated that WhatsApp has disrupted the hacking campaign and will continue to do so. Protect the rights of its users In communicating privately and 100% securely. WhatsApp also explained that the hackers who carried out the hacking campaign used malicious PDF files sent through WhatsApp groups to hack the targeted devices. The most important step taken by WhatsApp to disrupt the hacking campaign was to release a security update to prevent this attack.

From iPhoneIslam.com, a person using a smartphone can be seen through a large, semi-transparent Whatsapp logo, with a red warning icon, highlighting the risk of being hacked due to potential spyware.


Legal action against the Israeli company

John Scott-Railton, a researcher at Citizen Lab, which has been investigating spyware companies for years, said his team spotted the same hacking campaign and is continuing to investigate. WhatsApp confirmed the hacking campaign was carried out in December and sent a legal letter to Paragon to stop its activities.

This is the first disclosure of its kind linking Paragon to a hacking campaign targeting journalists and activists. Since its founding in 2019, the company has been careful to stay out of the spotlight, avoiding the scandals that have hit other companies like Intellexa and NSO Group, which have been sanctioned by the US government. Last September, Paragon signed a contract with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through its US subsidiary, according to Wired. The New Yorker, citing a source inside the company, reported that the contract was concluded after an audit showed that Paragon had controls in place to prevent its foreign clients from targeting US residents. So far, the identities of the people targeted by the spying campaign that WhatsApp disrupted have not been determined. Investigations are ongoing to uncover more details.

From iPhoneIslam.com, a hand holding a smartphone with the Whatsapp logo, against a background of a digital world map and two hooded figures, in reference to a hacking campaign involving software espionage.


What do you think of the WhatsApp hacking campaign? Do you think the Israeli company will get the punishment it deserves? Let us know in the comments.

Source:

techcrunch

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