US Judge Rules NSO Group Liable for Hacking 1,400 WhatsApp Users in Five-Year Pegasus Spyware Lawsuit

Dec 21, 2024, 10:46 AM

A U.S. federal judge has ruled in favor of WhatsApp in its lawsuit against the Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, finding the company liable for hacking into the messaging platform. The court determined that NSO Group exploited a bug in WhatsApp to install its Pegasus spyware on the devices of over 1,400 users, including journalists and activists. This ruling marks a significant legal victory for WhatsApp, which had been pursuing the case for nearly five years. The judge's decision allows WhatsApp to seek sanctions against NSO Group, which has faced scrutiny for its role in enabling unauthorized surveillance worldwide. The ruling is seen as a landmark moment in holding the cybersecurity firm accountable for its actions.