WhatsApp, the messaging service owned by Meta Platforms, has accused Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions of targeting approximately 90 of its users, including journalists and members of civil society, as per a recent report by Reuters. The hack, described in the report as a sophisticated "zero-click" attack, required no interaction from the victims to compromise their devices, making it particularly difficult to detect.  

According to a WhatsApp official, the targeted users were spread across more than two dozen countries, with several located in Europe, says the Reuters report. The attackers reportedly sent malicious electronic documents to their victims, exploiting vulnerabilities in the messaging app. WhatsApp has since disrupted the hacking effort and is working with Canadian internet watchdog group Citizen Lab to assist affected users, adds the report.  

In response to the breach, WhatsApp sent Paragon a cease-and-desist letter and informed law enforcement and industry partners about the incident. However, the official declined to provide specific details about how Paragon was identified as the culprit or which law enforcement agencies were involved.  

Paragon, reportedly acquired by Florida-based investment group AE Industrial Partners last month, has not commented on the allegations. The company, as per Reuters, markets its surveillance tools as essential for fighting crime and protecting national security, claiming to sell only to governments in stable democratic countries. However, the use of such spyware has repeatedly sparked controversy, with reports of journalists, activists, opposition politicians, and even US officials being targeted.