Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'

Meta announces Israeli spyware company Paragon targeted Whatsapp users

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 31 Jan 2025 21:40
  • 5 Shares
3 Min Read

Paragon Solutions has been accused of targeting journalists and civil society members with hacking attempts, with WhatsApp issuing a cease-and-desist letter while highlighting concerns over the growing misuse of commercial spyware.

Listen
  • x
  • Meta announces Israeli spyware company Paragon targeted Whatsapp users
    Photo shows the WhatsApp communications app on a smartphone in New York on March 10, 2017. (AP)

According to an official from Meta's WhatsApp communication application, Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions targeted a large number of its users, including journalists and civil society representatives.

Following the incident, WhatsApp issued Paragon a cease-and-desist letter, according to an official on Friday. In a statement, WhatsApp stated that it "will continue to protect people's ability to communicate privately," while the Israeli firm declined to comment. 

WhatsApp officials informed Reuters that they had discovered an attempt to hack about 90 users of the platform, ranging from civil society to media members. One official revealed WhatsApp stopped the hacking attempt and was referring targets to the Canadian online watchdog group Citizen Lab.

The official refused to reveal how it determined that Paragon was responsible for the hack, detailing that law enforcement and industry partners had been notified but declined to go into detail.

According to Citizen Lab researcher John Scott-Railton, the discovery of Paragon malware targeting WhatsApp users "is a reminder that mercenary spyware continues to proliferate, and as it does, so do we see familiar patterns of problematic use."

Israeli spyware firms like NSO group and Pegasus, have in the past claimed their services to governments are crucial to combating crime and preserving national security while in effect engaging in espionage activities against journalists, activists, and opposition lawmakers, raising worries. 

Natalia Krapiva, senior tech-legal counsel at the advocacy organization Access Now, stated that Paragon had the reputation of being a superior spyware firm, "but WhatsApp's recent revelations suggest otherwise."

Related News

Ex-WhatsApp security chief sues Meta over privacy risks

Israeli tech firm NSO fined $167mln in Pegasus WhatsApp hack case

"This is not just a question of some bad apples — these types of abuses (are) a feature of the commercial spyware industry."

US judge rules Israeli NSO Group liable for WhatsApp hacking

Last month, a US judge ruled in favor of WhatsApp in a lawsuit against "Israel's" NSO Group, accusing the company of exploiting a vulnerability in the app to install spy software for unauthorized surveillance.

US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, granted WhatsApp's motion and determined NSO was liable for hacking and breach of contract.

The case is now set to move to trial to address the issue of damages, according to Hamilton. However, the NSO Group did not immediately comment on the ruling.

A senior researcher at the Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab, John Scott-Railton — who uncovered NSO's Pegasus spyware in 2016 — described the ruling as a landmark decision with "huge implications for the spyware industry."

In an instant message he said, “The entire industry has hidden behind the claim that whatever their customers do with their hacking tools, it's not their responsibility,” adding, “Today's ruling makes it clear that NSO Group is in fact responsible for breaking numerous laws.”

NSO history of unauthorized access 

In 2019, WhatsApp took legal action against NSO, requesting an injunction and damages, accusing the company of hacking WhatsApp's servers six months earlier to deploy Pegasus spyware on victims' devices.

The lawsuit claimed the breach led to the surveillance of 1,400 individuals, including journalists, human rights defenders, and political dissidents.

To justify its actions, NSO argued that Pegasus helps law enforcement and intelligence agencies counter crime and protect national security, while its technology intends to catch terrorists, pedophiles, and hardened criminals. 

  • Whatsapp
  • Hacking
  • Meta
  • paragon
  • Israel
  • Israeli spyware

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Elon Musk calls for dissolving UK parliament at London far-right rally

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas
Politics

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan
Politics

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor
Politics

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS