WhatsApp Uncovers Israeli Spyware Targeting Journalists and Activists
Paragon Solutions' 'Graphite' Spyware Infiltrates Devices via Malicious PDFs.
Watan-Meta has uncovered a significant espionage scandal targeting WhatsApp users, orchestrated by the Israeli company Paragon Solutions, known for its expertise in cyber intrusion. The attack primarily targeted journalists and members of civil society, raising concerns about the increasing use of surveillance technologies against dissenting voices and activists worldwide.
WhatsApp successfully disrupted the campaign upon its discovery but refrained from identifying the approximately 90 affected users or disclosing their locations. According to technical sources, the infection was delivered through malicious PDF files sent to individuals within group chats, enabling attackers to compromise devices and steal data.
Paragon Solutions, an Israeli firm specializing in developing spyware, markets itself as combating crime and protecting national security. However, this incident raises questions about the role of Israeli surveillance companies in supporting repressive regimes by selling advanced tools used to spy on political opponents and journalists.
The spyware used in this attack, known as “Graphite,” is a sophisticated hacking tool that grants attackers full control over the compromised phone, allowing them to read encrypted messages on applications like WhatsApp and Signal, eavesdrop on calls, and steal sensitive data.
This scandal follows years of involvement by other Israeli companies in global espionage activities, most notably the “Pegasus” software by NSO Group, which has been used to spy on dissidents and journalists in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States. These technologies are causing growing international concern regarding privacy violations and civil rights abuses, as digital tools become instruments of repression and surveillance.
Israel is known for Unit 8200, a division of the Israel Defense Forces specializing in cyber espionage, which has been implicated in several hacking scandals targeting political figures and human rights activists worldwide. With the rise of cyber threats, there is increasing attention on the need to impose strict international regulations on the sale and use of Israeli spyware, which has become a primary tool in oppressive surveillance against dissenting voices.
