Meta-owned WhatsApp has disrupted a spyware campaign that targeted around 90 journalists and civil society members across over two dozen countries using Paragon Solutions' spyware, Graphite. The zero-click attack likely involved sending PDF files in WhatsApp group chats to deploy the spyware without user interaction. WhatsApp has notified affected users and sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon, marking the first known case of its technology being misused. Paragon, recently acquired for $500 million, markets its surveillance tools for law enforcement but has faced scrutiny over contracts with U.S. agencies. This revelation follows WhatsApp's legal victory against NSO Group for using Pegasus spyware and the arrest of former Polish Justice Minister for allegedly using Pegasus to surveil opposition leaders.

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