WhatsApp, the popular messaging service owned by Meta Platforms, disclosed that Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions targeted its users in two dozen countries, including journalists and members of civil society. The company revealed that approximately 90 users were compromised through a zero-click hack, which did not require any user interaction to install spyware. WhatsApp has since sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon and disrupted the hacking efforts, working with the Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab and informing law enforcement. The spyware, often sold to governments, has been found on the devices of activists, journalists, and politicians, raising alarms over the proliferation of surveillance tools. While Paragon claims to operate ethically, the latest revelations suggest otherwise.
