WhatsApp hacked to spy on top government officials at U.S. allies; Facebook sues Israeli developer

Reuters

Senior government officials in multiple U.S.-allied countries were targeted earlier this year with hacking software that used Facebook Inc’s (FB.O) WhatsApp to take over users’ phones, according to people familiar with the messaging company’s investigation.

Sources familiar with WhatsApp’s internal investigation into the breach said a “significant” portion of the known victims are high-profile government and military officials spread across at least 20 countries on five continents.

At first you read these news and you think, ok Russia is still meddling or Iran is trying to spy on us, or most definitely China...

WhatsApp filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Israeli hacking tool developer NSO Group. The Facebook-owned software giant alleges that NSO Group built and sold a hacking platform that exploited a flaw in WhatsApp-owned servers to help clients hack into the cellphones of at least 1,400 users.

While it is not clear who used the software to hack officials’ phones, NSO says it sells its spyware exclusively to government customers.

While it is not clear who used the software, it is clear that our greatest ally's greatest ally is not us, but profit.

Care about our security, safety, stability, American lives?

Nope. Highest bidder gets it.

a reply to: Oraculi

It could have been our own CIA using the tool to spy on us.
Neat trick, in that you don't have to do anything to allow Pegasus into your phone, other than having whatsapp installed.

a reply to: Oraculi

Considering that the only ones who we know have been spied on for sure are journalists and human rights activists in India, I would say the top suspects would be India or Pakistan.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: Oraculi

Considering that the only ones who we know have been spied on for sure are journalists and human rights activists in India, I would say the top suspects would be India or Pakistan.

There were cases in Rwanda after the new President took over. He was apparently using Pegasus to locate domestic 'enemies'.... political dissidents. Apparently some of them were killed, he had a list of people that 'need to die now'.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: Oraculi

Considering that the only ones who we know have been spied on for sure are journalists and human rights activists in India, I would say the top suspects would be India or Pakistan.

WhatsApp filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Israeli hacking tool developer NSO Group

No, sounds like Mossad.

FB upset about someone else invading privacy/spying. Holy crap, what a joke.