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fliptop [soylentnews.org] writes:

Messaging app said it had ‘high confidence’ some users were targeted and ‘possibly compromised’ by Paragon Solutions spyware [theguardian.com]:

Nearly 100 journalists and other members of civil society using WhatsApp [theguardian.com], the popular messaging app owned by Meta, were targeted by spyware owned by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli maker of hacking software, the company alleged on Friday.

The journalists and other civil society members were being alerted of a possible breach of their devices, with WhatsApp telling the Guardian it had “high confidence” that the 90 users in question had been targeted and “possibly compromised”.

It is not clear who was behind the attack. Like other spyware makers, Paragon’s hacking software is used by government clients and WhatsApp said it had not been able to identify the clients who ordered the alleged attacks.

Experts said the targeting was a “zero-click” attack, which means targets would not have had to click on any malicious links to be infected.

[...] WhatsApp said it had sent Paragon a “cease and desist” letter and that it was exploring its legal options. WhatsApp said the alleged attacks had been disrupted in December and that it was not clear how long the targets may have been under threat.

Originally spotted on Schneier on Security [schneier.com].

Related:

• Journalist Sues Predator Spyware Maker for Allegedly Helping Government Surveil Him [soylentnews.org]
• Israeli Spyware Maker Is in Spotlight Amid Reports of Wide Abuses [soylentnews.org]
• The Great iPwn -- Journalists Hacked with Suspected NSO Group iMessage 'Zero-Click' Exploit [soylentnews.org]

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