WhatsApp Scores Historic Victory Against NSO Group in Long-Running Spyware Hacking Case

A U.S. judge has ruled that Israeli spyware maker NSO Group breached hacking laws by using WhatsApp to infect devices with its Pegasus spyware. From a report: In a historic ruling on Friday, a Northern California federal judge held NSO Group liable for targeting the devices of 1,400 WhatsApp users, violating state and federal hacking laws as well as WhatsApp's terms of service, which prohibit the use of the messaging platform for malicious purposes.

The ruling comes five years after Meta-owned WhatsApp sued NSO Group, alleging the spyware outfit had exploited an audio-calling vulnerability in the messaging platform to install its Pegasus spyware on unsuspecting users' devices. WhatsApp said that more than 100 human rights defenders, journalists and "other members of civil society" were targeted by the malware, along with government officials and diplomats. In her ruling, Judge Phyllis Hamilton said NSO did not dispute that it "must have reverse-engineered and/or decompiled the WhatsApp software" to install its Pegasus spyware on devices, but raised questions about whether it had done so before agreeing to WhatsApp's terms of service.

How did NSO upset the US deep state?

[Bruce66423]

It's amazing that this story has made it so far. Usually it would have long since been squelched by certain 'three letter agencies'. They haven't done so. Are they losing their touch? Or has NSO upset them...

Re:

[Rujiel]

100%, but just like every atrocious thing that "country" has done, the broader MSM including network / cable news aren't going to touch this story

Why no summary judgement?

[laughingskeptic]

After four years we have a judge declaring:

Judge Phyllis Hamilton noted NSO had repeatedly failed to produce relevant discovery, including the Pegasus source code, despite a court order requiring that it be turned over. She said NSO also refused to produce internal communications, including communications about WhatsApp vulnerabilities.

I guess Meta wants to put this before a jury who will give them a larger award than a judge who will consider facts like whether the company itself was damaged at all?

\o/

[easyTree]

Wtf does it matter if they 'agreed' to the TOS (rhetorical, feel free to stfu :-)

The fact is that there are implicit TOS between all pairs of individuals, dictating how to relate to others - NSO broke _those_

Now now

[50000BTU_barbecue]

They're our bestest ally. They need critical information to target refugee tents and children. Not like SOME BAD COUNTRIES.

Re:

[smooth wombat]

Don't forget schools [reuters.com]. Can't forget the schools [cnn.com]. The schools [aljazeera.com] with a UN flag. Funny how often that happens when you're committing genocide.

yet again

[guygo]

The "We're Israel and recognize no one else's rules" raises it's ugly head yet again. Bullies never change.

Re:

[smooth wombat]

You can see how desperate they are by this article [newsweek.com]. Any excuse to attack their neighbor while claiming they're the victim.