Meta is filing a federal court contempt order against the Israeli spyware firm NSO Group. The company accuses the maker of the Pegasus hacking tool of violating a permanent injunction that barred it from targeting WhatsApp and its users.
WhatsApp recently disrupted new spear phishing attempts linked to NSO, an entity blacklisted by the U.S. government and identified as a national security risk. These attempts were similar to previous 1-click phishing campaigns aimed to trick users into clicking malicious links that directed them to external websites. In response, WhatsApp took down test accounts and groups created by NSO on its platform.
A U.S. court ordered NSO to stop targeting WhatsApp last year, a development the spyware company warned could put it out of business. NSO did not immediately respond to requests for comment.