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   Paragon spyware cancels contract with Italian government after targeting   
   journalists and citizens across Europe   
      
   Date:   
   Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:24:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   Italian government confirms seven of its citizens were targeted by Paragon   
   spyware.   
      
   FULL STORY   
   ======================================================================   
    - Italian citizens were targeted by Paragon spyware, government says   
    - A malicious PDF file was used to deploy malware through WhatsApp   
    - Paragon has since cancelled its contract with Italy   
      
   The Italian government has confirmed in a statement that seven of its   
   citizens, and many others across Europe, were targeted by Israeli spyware   
   company Paragon Solutions.    
      
   The zero-click attack campaign used a malicious PDF file to infect users'   
   devices through the WhatsApp messenger . The Italian ruling party, Fratelli   
   dItalia, has denied any involvement with the campaign.    
      
   Fanpage.it, whose director was targeted as part of the campaign, confirmed   
   Paragon had terminated its contract with the Italian government for failing    
   to comply with the ethical framework laid out in the agreement.   
      
   Paragon targets EU citizens   
      
   WhatsApp and its law firm Advant told the Italian National Cybersecurity   
   Agency that seven Italian WhatsApp users were the targets of Paragon, but   
   their identities could not be revealed because of privacy concerns.    
      
   Outside of Italy, citizens of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic,   
   Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal,    
   Spain, and Sweden were also targeted in the campaign based on country phone   
   codes.    
      
   The victims were mainly journalists and other members of civil society,   
   WhatsApp confirmed last week after accusing Paragon of the spyware campaign   
   and issuing a cease and desist letter.    
      
   Paragon also stated earlier this week that the US and allies were customers    
   of the company, and said that the company has a zero-tolerance policy for the   
   illicit targeting of journalist and other civil society figures, with Paragon   
   further stating that it would terminate our relationship with any customer   
   found in violation of this rule.    
      
   The Italian government also stated that as WhatsApp Ireland Limited is the   
   European operator for Meta, only European Union members have been included in   
   the list of countries, potentially indicating that countries outside of    
   Europe were also targeted in the campaign.   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/paragon-spyware-cancels-contract-with-i   
   talian-government-after-targeting-journalists-and-citizens-across-europe   
      
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