WhatsApp Hackers Pay a Hefty Price: $170 Million Fine for NSO Group
- Authored by: Malte Mansholt
Unscrupulous hackers intercepted WhatsApp data, now facing hefty penalties in multi-million dollar settlements. - WhatsApp breach leads to hackers needing to shell out millions in proceeds.
Take a seat, folks! The infamous Israeli hacking group, NSO, has had a costly spell. The perpetrators of the 2018 WhatsApp hack are now on the hook for a jaw-dropping $167.25 million fine. That's roughly €147 million in the old money!
The verdict, delivered by a Northern District Court of California jury, landed on Tuesday. Meta, WhatsApp's momma, is the lucky beneficiary. They'll be collecting $444,719 in damages, with the remaining hefty sum serving as a not-so-subtle slap on the wrist.
Meta had opened legal proceedings against the NSO Group after unearthing the spying activities, which happened on behalf of their sketchy clients. Over 1,400 WhatsApp users suffered the brunt: journalists, activists, and government critics bearing the brunt of this sinister invasion of privacy. Even the murdered journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, was once under their digital microscope, courtesy of Pegasus.
Snooping Without a Warning
The victims? They never saw this coming. NSO capitalized on a zero-day vulnerability — a flaw unbeknownst to the public. The malware jumped ships onto devices via a silent call or text message. The victims? As innocent as doves, with absolutely no need to take any action. This type of attack? Completing rare, with such vulnerabilities fetching a pretty penny on the black market.
Meta's staffers discovered the trickery back in May 2019. Months down the line, they identified over 1,400 victims and traced the scoundrels back to their lair. With the help of the civil rights organization, Citizen Lab, they unraveled the conspiracy. It wasn't until five months later that Meta finally fingered the NSO Group and decided to take them to court.
WhatsApp: The Opening Act
The trial shed a scorching light on the murky underworld of hacking outfits lurking in the twilight zone. The NSO Group was forced to confess they spent a shocking $100 million each year to catch security flaws in WhatsApp and other programs. They swore by their clients, who they claimed were fighting terrorism, child abuse, or other serious crimes. Their clients? Actively discouraged from spying on journalists, dissidents, or human rights activists.
However, Meta's legal eagles managed to spin a convincing yarn for the jury. "This marks the first time hacking firms have faced the music in court, and the public is now witnessing just how they operate," Meta stated in triumph. "This verdict is a massive step forward in protecting privacy and security." Apple's up next, chasing the NSO Group like a angry bull, as they too have a score to settle.
The Verdict: A Crystal-Clear Message
"It turns out people don't appreciate companies that help dictators snoop on dissidents," a researcher at Citizen Lab quipped on the short messaging service Bluesky. NSO had puffed up their feathers, ready to take on the world with fancy legal mumbo-jumbo and a PR blitz. But one swift jury decision later, and the message was clear: you never know when you might be the next one in the crosshairs.
NSO? They ain't throwing in the towel just yet. A spokesperson declared they're taking a close look at the verdict and mulling over further legal steps, including a possible appeal.
- "What's up, messenger? It seems even WhatsApp's hackers aren't immune to consequences. The NSO Group, infamous for the 2018 WhatsApp hack, has been slapped with a hefty $170 million fine."
- "The trial involving the NSO Group and WhatsApp, known as a 'general-news' and 'crime-and-justice' headline these days, saw Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, collecting $444,719 in damages."
- "The hacking group, NSO, was found guilty of exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in WhatsApp, a form of attack rarely seen, making the discovered vulnerability a hot commodity in the cybersecurity world."
- "The trial served as a stark reminder of the activities of hacking outfits like the NSO Group, with Meta's legal team arguing that it's the first time a hacking company has faced legal consequences in court."
- "In response to the verdict, a researcher at Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity organization, noted, 'It turns out people don't appreciate companies that help dictators snoop on dissidents.' This was a crystal-clear message echoing the cyberspace that hackers need to tread carefully."
