"WhatsApp's security team discovered that users had downloaded a malicious unofficial iOS client built by SIO, an Italian company that develops government spyware through its subsidiary ASIGINT. The company logged out affected users, warned them about privacy risks, and urged them to delete the fake app and reinstall the official version."
"The incident is the latest in a pattern of fake app-based surveillance operations linked to Italian authorities. SIO was behind a series of malicious Android apps containing spyware dubbed Spyrtacus, including fake customer support tools for cellphone providers."
"This disclosure arrives roughly a year after WhatsApp alerted users that they had been targeted by spyware made by U.S.-Israeli firm Paragon Solutions. Those notifications were sent to journalists and pro-immigration activists in Italy, triggering a significant political scandal."
WhatsApp informed around 200 users in Italy that they had installed a malicious version of the app containing government spyware. The fake app was linked to SIO, an Italian surveillance firm. Affected users were logged out, warned about privacy risks, and advised to delete the fake app. WhatsApp plans to take legal action against SIO. This incident reflects a pattern of surveillance operations involving fake apps in Italy, with previous cases involving other spyware vendors targeting journalists and activists.
Read at Silicon Canals
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