Malicious WhatsApp version used to distribute spyware, activate cameras, listen to calls
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has notified users who downloaded a spyware-infected version of WhatsApp.
-
Victims, mostly in Italy, were socially engineered into installing a fake WhatsApp loaded with spyware.
-
The malware could steal messages, intercept calls, activate cameras, and listen through microphones.
-
Meta says ASIGINT, a subsidiary of wiretapping company SIO, developed the malicious app.
The victims, who are mainly located in Italy, were allegedly tricked into installing a fake version of WhatsApp through social engineering tactics.
The fake version contained spyware that could steal text messages, chats, and contact information from WhatsApp, Signal, and Facebook Messenger. In addition, the spyware was able to intercept telephone calls, listen in on the victim’s surroundings by misusing the microphone, and use the camera to take pictures.
The 200 affected users were logged out of their accounts and then warned to uninstall the app and download the official app from the App Store.
“To protect our users from this type of malicious activity, Meta constantly monitors its network for signals attributable to tampered or unofficial clients,” Meta said in a statement to Italian news outlet La Repubblica.
The scam didn’t exploit an inherent vulnerability in WhatsApp’s systems.
“We are not facing a breach of WhatsApp’s official applications, infrastructure, or encryption. Users’ personal communications through our official application continue to be protected by end-to-end encryption and default privacy settings,” the company added to its statement.
According to Meta, ASIGINT, an Italian-based tech company, developed the spyware. ASIGINT is a subsidiary of SIO, a company that’s been associated with wiretapping and surveillance software.
Meta says it has contacted ASIGINT to cease all harmful activities.
This isn’t the first time WhatsApp has had to deal with spyware.
In January 2025, the messaging app had to warn about 90 users that they were targeted with Paragon Solutions’ spyware, Graphite. Paragon declined to comment but claimed to offer its products and services only to governments in stable democratic countries.
The conversation on this topic is live. Join in the discussion.
Back in 2019, WhatsApp sued NSO Group after an eavesdropping campaign that targeted over 1,400 WhatsApp users, including human rights activists, journalists, and government officials.
In May 2025, a jury decided that NSO Group had to pay $167 million in punitive damages. A few months later, in October 2025, the fine was lowered to $4 million.
Unlock more exclusive Cybernews content on YouTube.
