WhatsApp has thwarted a fresh hacking attempt allegedly linked to NSO Group, a company known for creating spyware. The messaging app claims that this new campaign is a direct violation of an earlier court order aimed at stopping NSO from targeting its users.
The latest incident involved spear phishing attempts and test accounts on WhatsApp, which the company swiftly dismantled. This comes amid ongoing litigation between WhatsApp and NSO over previous hacking campaigns targeting journalists, dissidents, and human rights activists worldwide.
NSO faces a contempt of court charge for allegedly ignoring the permanent injunction issued in 2019. The order was a result of a mass-hacking campaign that compromised over 1,400 WhatsApp users, leading to a $167 million lawsuit.
In recent years, tech giants have rallied against NSO by exposing its activities and implementing security measures to counteract the threat posed by such powerful spyware. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has imposed sanctions on NSO and other similar companies in an attempt to curb their operations.
