Caught Red-Handed: NSO Group Faces $167 Million Fine for Hacking WhatsApp Users
- By Malte Mansholt
- Est. Reading Time: 2 minutes
WhatsApp hackers face massive penalties after accessing private chats, ordered to pay millions - WhatsApp hackers now face hefty financial penalties for their illegal activities, worth millions of dollars.
In a jaw-dropping expose, the Israeli hacker firm NSO Group has been slapped with a jaw-dropping fine of $167.25 million by a U.S. jury for infiltrating popular messenger app WhatsApp in 2018. The company's Pegasus spyware enabled them to surreptitiously snoop on thousands of users, including journalists, human rights activists, and government critics without their knowledge.
The WhatsApp Hack: A Closer Look
The unsuspecting victims fell prey to NSO Group's sneaky tactics when the company took advantage of a previously undiscovered security flaw, or zero-day vulnerability. The malware crept onto devices via silent phone calls or text messages, requiring no action from the users. Once installed, the hackers could read messages and emails, access photos, control cameras, and microphones—effectively turning devices into surveillance machines that users couldn't safeguard against.
The Silent Battle: From Discovery to Courtroom
WhatsApp employees unmasked the vulnerability in May 2019, launching a stealth investigation that took months to identify more than 1,400 victims and uncover the attack's origins. Working alongside civil rights organization Citizen Lab, Meta sought to expose the hack. After five months of investigating, Meta publicly accused NSO Group of the attack and filed a lawsuit in October 2019.
Setting a Precedent: A Trial in the Shadows
This trial shed light on the clandestine practices of gratuitous hacker firms like NSO Group. Although the company claimed to focus its efforts only against terrorism, child abuse, or other serious crimes while actively discouraging spying on journalists and activists, the jury saw things differently.
Meta stated, "This verdict represents the first trial of spyware operators, illuminating their modus operandi for the public. This verdict sends a powerful message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated."
It's not just Meta that's taking a stand. Apple has also levied charges against NSO Group, and the trial is still ongoing. If history is any indication, the NSO Group may appeal the decision.
A New Age of Accountability
A researcher from citizen lab commented on the platform Bluesky, "It's evident that people don't appreciate companies helping dictators spy on dissidents. Despite NSO Group's legal arguments and PR machine, the jury delivered a clear message: Other companies can also find themselves in the dock."
Sources: The Verge, Meta, Courthouse News Service
- Messenger
Enrichment Data:- The Pegasus Spyware Case Verdict: In a significant decision, the federal court ordered NSO Group to pay nearly $170 million in damages to Meta and WhatsApp, following a six-year legal battle that began in October 2019.- Key Points: NSO Group exploited a zero-day vulnerability to surreptitiously infect around 1,400 devices via zero-click attacks, enabling access to sensitive data without user interaction. The jury trial awarded Meta substantial damages for compensatory and punitive damages.- NSO Group's Defense: NSO Group maintains that its technology is used responsibly for preventing serious crime and plans to appeal the verdict.- Meta's Next Steps: Meta will pursue a court order to prevent future targeting by NSO Group and plans to donate to digital rights organizations.
This ruling marks a notable win for Meta as it strives to protect user privacy and highlights the legal challenges faced by spyware companies like NSO Group.
- What's up, messenger? It seems the Israeli hacker firm NSO Group has found itself in hot water, being fined $167.25 million for hacking WhatsApp users in 2018.
- The trial surrounding NSO Group's hack of WhatsApp has exposed the clandestine practices of such gratuitous hacker firms, despite their claims to focus solely on combating terrorism and serious crimes.
- Meta, in a statement, mentioned that this verdict sets a precedent and sends a powerful message against such unauthorized intrusion, as they plan to donate to digital rights organizations and pursue a court order to prevent future targeting.
- It's clear from the verdict that people don't appreciate companies helping dictators spy on dissidents, as a researcher from citizen lab commented on the platform Bluesky.
- Khashoggi, crime-and-justice, and general-news lovers should keep an eye on the ongoing trials against NSO Group, as more revelations about the technology and cybersecurity industry may arise in the near future.
