On Monday, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) accused Israeli spyware maker NSO Group of violating a federal court order after WhatsApp disrupted a new phishing campaign allegedly linked to the company behind the controversial Pegasus spyware.
Meta Seeks Contempt Finding Against NSO Group
In a blog post, Meta said it has asked a U.S. federal court to hold NSO Group in contempt, alleging the company was connected to spear-phishing attempts targeting WhatsApp users despite a permanent injunction barring such activity.
According to Meta, the company detected and blocked what it described as NSO-linked attacks that attempted to lure users into clicking malicious links directing them to websites outside WhatsApp.
"They tried to trick people into clicking on malicious links to drive them to external websites outside of WhatsApp, similar to previously reported 1-click phishing campaigns linked to NSO," Meta said.
The company added that it also identified and removed WhatsApp test accounts and groups allegedly created as part of the operation.
Pegasus Spyware And WhatsApp Security Concerns
The reported activity involved "one-click" phishing attacks, in which a single interaction with a malicious link can potentially compromise a device or expose sensitive data.
Meta said that WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption was not breached and urged users to remain vigilant and report suspicious messages.
Growing Pressure On The Spyware Industry
NSO Group, which says its technology helps governments combat crime and terrorism, has faced years of scrutiny from regulators and human rights organizations.
The Joe Biden administration sanctioned the company in 2021, citing activities deemed contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
NSO Group did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments.
Price Action: Shares of META closed Tuesday at $584.59, down 0.14% and rose 0.46% to $587.27 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro.
According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Meta scores in the 89th percentile for growth, although its shares remain in a negative trend across short, medium and long-term periods.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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