WhatsApp Says Italian Surveillance Company Tricked Around 200 Users Into Downloading Spyware
WhatsApp said the campaign used social engineering and logged affected users out after discovering the fake client, which carried spyware built by SIO.
- WhatsApp notified approximately 200 users, primarily in Italy, that they were tricked into installing a counterfeit version of the messaging app containing government spyware from Italian firm SIO.
- The malware, identified in its code as 'Spyrtacus,' was developed by ASIGINT, a subsidiary of SIO, which provides cyber intelligence solutions to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
- Unlike zero-click exploits, this operation relied on social engineering to trick victims into installing the malicious application, which could steal messages, call logs, and record audio and video.
- WhatsApp logged affected users out of their accounts, warned them of privacy risks, and confirmed plans to send a formal legal demand to SIO to halt the malicious activity.
- This marks the second time in 15 months Meta has disrupted spyware activity in Italy, where permissive regulations and low costs have fueled a thriving surveillance ecosystem.
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der Standard AT
der Standard DETargeted attack on about 200 people. The Italian spyware manufacturer Asigint is supposed to be behind it.
WhatsApp has separated affected accounts and requested to switch to the official app. Now the company announces legal action.
Spyware outfit caught leveraging fake version of WhatsApp to target users
Meta has issued warnings to hundreds of users after it discovered a malicious version of the WhatsApp chat app was being distributed by an Italian spyware maker. The Italian group SIO is said to be behind the app which was being used to target iPhone users – although it did not make its way into the official App Store. The fake app was primarily targeting users in Italy, although not exclusively. As reported by WABetaInfo, the SIO group is a wel…
Meta warns iPhone users of Italian spyware campaign disguised as WhatsApp: Here's what you need to know
WhatsApp has alerted around 200 users in Italy about a malicious version of the app containing spyware developed by SIO. Victims were tricked into downloading the fake app through social engineering techniques.
WhatsApp: Italian firm targeted around 200 users with spyware
Messaging service WhatsApp said an Italian surveillance company tricked some 200 users into downloading a bogus version of its popular app that was rigged to spy on its victims.In a statement, the Meta Platforms-owned service said the campaign was carried
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