Key takeaways:

• WhatsApp has identified attempts by Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions to hack nearly 100 users, including journalists.
• The cybersecurity incident involved a "zero-click" attack method, posing serious privacy concerns.
• WhatsApp has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon and is collaborating with Citizen Lab to investigate further.
• Experts warn about the dangerous proliferation of mercenary spyware targeting civil society and media.
• Paragon's spyware, Graphite, reportedly has capabilities similar to notorious NSO Group's Pegasus.

WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform owned by Meta, disclosed alarming details regarding an attempt by Reuters to hack into the accounts of nearly 100 of its users. According to officials at WhatsApp, the attack was orchestrated by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company that specializes in creating spyware. The targeted individuals included journalists and members of civil society, underscoring a worrying trend in the misuse of technology for surveillance against those in the media and civic spheres.

WhatsApp emphasized its "high confidence" that these users had been "possibly compromised." Following the detection of this intrusion attempt, the company promptly sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon and is currently examining its legal options. As detailed in a report from The Guardian, the attack reportedly utilized a "zero-click" method, enabling it to infect devices without any action from the users.

While specifics about the targeted individuals were not disclosed, WhatsApp has referred them to the Canadian cyber watchdog, Citizen Lab. The breach purportedly involved malicious PDFs sent to users included in group chats, a tactic that raises significant ethical concerns regarding privacy and online security. This case highlights the increasing availability and abuse of mercenary spyware technologies which have been historically monitored due to their deleterious impacts on journalism and activism.

Citizen Lab researcher John Scott-Railton commented on the developments, stating that "the discovery of Paragon spyware targeting WhatsApp users serves as a reminder that mercenary spyware continues to proliferate, demonstrating a concerning trend in its usage patterns." The spyware in question is known as Graphite and is often compared to the notorious Pegasus spyware from NSO Group, which infamously enables its operators to execute detailed surveillance on target devices.

As scrutiny surrounding Paragon has grown, particularly after its recent $2 million contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's division, the implications of spyware misuse for civil liberties and human rights remain a pressing issue. Al Jazeera reports a broader industry concern about the unchecked proliferation of such surveillance technologies which are marketed under the guise of national security.

As WhatsApp continues to protect the integrity of its services, the recent events illustrate the need for robust accountability measures against companies like Paragon that engage in potentially unlawful surveillance practices.

For further information, refer to the full articles from The Guardian, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.