WhatsApp revealed on Friday that they disrupted a hacking campaign targeting around 90 users, including journalists and members of civil society. The campaign was linked to Paragon, an Israeli spyware maker acquired by American private equity firm AE Industrial Partners in December. WhatsApp took action to protect affected individuals and prevent further hacks. Researcher John Scott-Railton confirmed the hacking campaign and WhatsApp sent a cease and desist letter to Paragon. Despite Paragon’s previous reputation, WhatsApp’s findings suggest otherwise, highlighting the concerning practices within the commercial spyware industry.
