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WhatsApp said it has notified about 200 users who were tricked into installing a malicious fake version of the chat app containing government spyware.
WhatsApp has accused Italian spyware maker SIO of creating a fake version of its messaging app for iPhones, according to an announcement the company shared with TechCrunch.
“Our security team proactively identified around 200 users primarily in Italy, who we believe may have downloaded this unofficial malicious client,” WhatsApp said in its statement. “We logged them out, alerted them to the risks to their privacy and security that come with downloading unofficial fake clients, and encouraged them to remove it and download the official WhatsApp app.”
WhatsApp spokeswoman Margarita Franklin told TechCrunch that at this point, the company cannot share more information about the users it has notified, such as whether they are journalists or members of civil society.
“Our priority was to protect users who may have been tricked into downloading this fake iOS app,” Franklin said.
WhatsApp also said in its announcement that it plans to “send a formal legal request to stop any such malicious activity to this spyware company.”
Italian newspaper Republic And the news agency Forget I reported the news for the first time.
Last year, TechCrunch revealed this SIO was behind a series of malicious Android apps Which contains its own spyware, including fake versions of WhatsApp, as well as fake customer support tools for mobile phone providers. SIO’s spyware was identified as Spyrtacus, a word that appeared in the spyware’s code.
Contact us
Do you have more information about SIO or other government spyware makers? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, via Telegram, Keybase, Wire @lorenzofb, or By email.
The use of fake apps against surveillance targets is commonplace This is a well-established tactic used by the authorities in Italywho often get cooperation from mobile phone providers, who send phishing links to their customers on behalf of law enforcement authorities.
SEO Development of government spyware Through it sub hiring
Apple and SIO did not respond to a request for comment.
WhatsApp’s latest announcement comes a year later The company alerted about 90 users They were targeted with spyware made by an American-Israeli surveillance technology company Solutions to the proverb. WhatsApp sent these notifications to Journalists and Pro-immigration Activistsamong other things, sparking a widespread scandal throughout Italy.
In response, Breaking off same-sex relationships With Italian spy agencies, Who were her clients.