WhatsApp says Israeli spyware firm Paragon targeted journalists

WhatsApp has revealed that Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions was behind a recent hacking attempt targeting dozens of its users, including journalists and civil society members.

The company disclosed on Friday that it had identified an effort to compromise the accounts of about 90 users and had successfully intervened to disrupt the attack.

WhatsApp subsequently sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon, which has not publicly responded to the allegations.

The official stated that while the identities and locations of the affected individuals were not shared, many of the targets were from media and civil society groups.

In response to the attack, WhatsApp referred the affected users to Citizen Lab, a Canadian internet watchdog, for further investigation.

Paragon Solutions is known for providing high-end surveillance software to government clients, which it markets as a tool for national security and crime prevention.

However, the company’s software has frequently been found on the phones of journalists, human rights activists, and politicians, sparking concerns over its misuse.

Paragon, which was recently acquired by the Florida-based investment group AE Industrial Partners, has sought to position itself as a more ethical player in the spyware market, claiming to sell only to governments in stable democratic nations.

However, WhatsApp’s revelations cast doubt on these claims.

Paragon Solutions and AE Industrial Partners have yet to comment on the allegations, and the FBI has not provided any additional information regarding the matter.