06.02.2025 14:40
The popular messaging app WhatsApp has been targeted by spyware attacks in Italy, following several countries in Europe. The Roman government stated that it considers the issue to be a serious matter.
Italy is discussing the attack on the messaging application WhatsApp. It has been reported that the communications of 7 mobile phone users on Meta's instant messaging application WhatsApp were targeted through spyware.
In a written statement from the Italian Prime Minister's Office, it was noted that the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni considers this issue a serious matter, stating, "The government has activated the National Cyber Security Agency (ACN), which is directly affiliated with the Prime Minister's Office. The ACN has contacted the Advant law firm authorized by 'WhatsApp Ireland Limited.' So far, it has been revealed that the number of affected Italian users is 7."
THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS IS INCREASING ACROSS EUROPE
The statement mentioned that the identities of the affected users have not been reported to the ACN, and that WhatsApp Ireland Limited has directly informed these individuals while not disclosing any names to protect their privacy. In the statement from the Italian Prime Minister's Office, it was expressed that there are also affected users from Belgium, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden outside of Italy.
WHATSAPP HAD WARNED ABOUT ISRAELI-BASED SPYWARE
Meta's instant messaging application WhatsApp had reported at the end of January that approximately 90 journalists and civil society members may have been targeted by spyware called "Graphite" from an Israeli-based company named "Paragon Solutions." Francesco Cancellato, the editor-in-chief of the news site "Fanpage," which revealed the fascist sympathizers in the youth wing of Meloni's party Brothers of Italy in June 2024, also stated that he was aware of the cyber attack's target through a warning message sent to him by WhatsApp. Besides Cancellato, Luca Casarini, the founder and president of the civil society organization Mediterranea Saving Humans, which generally operates to rescue migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean, has also similarly complained.