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
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace
Member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti: The Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli aggression targeted the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street, southwest of the capital, Sanaa, with several raids

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

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

Signal clone used by Trump security advisor hacked, data may be leaked

"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

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

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