The fallout continues from the recent WhatsApp hating campaign (by an entity still unconfirmed) which targeted nearly 100 journalists and activists. Bloomberg reported On Wednesday, a collection of Italian media groups filed a criminal complaint with the Rome prosecutor’s office. They hope to discover who installed the zero-click spy software, which was manufactured by the paragon Israeli based solutions.
According to BloombergThe complaint describes spy software as an “intolerable intrusion into the personal and professional dimension of journalists”, exposing them and their sources “at enormous risks and always persistent for their individual security”. He alleys that officials have violated Italian laws prohibiting the “illicit installation” of listening equipment.
WhatsApp said that he had contacted privately to inform the victims of hacking, which would have taken place in December and targeted users across Europe. Three Italian victims have come forward, notably Francesco Cancellato (journalist and chief of Fanpage.it) and activists Beppe Caccia and Luca Casarini. The last two focus on charity with the group Mediterranea saving humans.
WhatsApp said zero-click hacking used malicious PDFs sent to groups on the platform. The company has since published a fix to prevent future use of the feat.
The scandal exerts pressure on the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and his far -right party of the brothers of Italy. Earlier this month, the government confirmed that at least seven Italian phones were involved in the campaign and that its national cybersecurity agency was investigating. Arturo Di Corinto, agency spokesperson, said Bloomberg This week, the investigation was underway.
The Italian government has denied participation in hacks, but speculation abounds. Last week, the Minister of the Cabinet Luca Ciriani confirmed In Parliament, the government has had a long -standing contract with Paragon to help questions of intelligence and national security. However, he insisted that the law was “rigorously respected”.
The guardian reported This paragon recently suspended a contract with Italy after the spy software attack has become public. However, Ciriani said the intelligence services contract with Paragon is still active, which suggests that there was a second agreement. Indeed, Israel Haaretz reported This paragon had two contracts with Italy to use its military quality graphite software, which said that WhatsApp had been used to infect victims’ devices.
Paragon, essentially a professional spy software company, has the policy of doing business with democratic governments. It is recently between In a controversial contract of $ 2 million with the American Department of Immigration and Customs (ICE). Paragon was acquired In December by American Private Equity Company AE Industrial Partners. The company has not yet commented on hacking.
This article originally appeared on engadget to
