Another person aimed at Paragon Spyware goes forward

Another person who is said to be aimed at WhatsApp with spyware made by Israeli company Paragon has come out.

Bepped Caccio, one of the co -founders of RescueAn Italian non -governmental organization that helps immigrants, told TechCrunch that it was directed by a spy campaign.

Kakio revealed he was directed after another of the co -founders of his organization Luca Casarini, said publicly Last week, he also received a notice from WhatsApp, which warned him of the suspected attack on spyware.

On Monday, during a press conference organized by Sandro Rootolo, an Italian member of the European Parliament, Casarini said he filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office in Palermo, Italy, regarding the alleged hack. Casarini said his goal is to find out who is directed at him and his organization.

“We have nothing to hide. Those who spy have a lot to hide, “Casarini said.

Before Caccio, three more people came out, saying they had received a notice from WhatsApp about being among about 90 people aimed at spyware Made by Paragon. The other three victims include Francesco CandelatoThe director of the news website Fanpage.it; Libyan activist Hasas El Gomatowho lives in Sweden and works on immigration issues related to Italy and Libya; And clerks.

The news of the spyware campaign broke on January 31 when WhatsApp said She had violated the campaign and notified about 90 people which were directed. WhatsApp does not attribute a campaign to a particular government, nor Paragon revealed which government client is behind the campaign.

The Italian government denied participation in the hacker campaign. In printThe service of the Italian Prime Minister said that legal protected objects, including journalists, were not directed by the Italian intelligence services.

In the same press release Italian government said Meta told him that there were other goals In Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Apart from Austria, none of the governments of these countries has been contacted either through their embassies in the United States or through other governmental authorities, did not respond to TechCrunch’s demands for comment.

A spokesman for the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior told TechCrunch that paragon attacks were known to their local authorities, but also declined to provide more information.

During the same press conference as Caultirini on Monday, David YamambioCo -founder of NGOs based in Italy Refugees in LibyaHe said he was also directed by a spyware campaign. Yamambio said it was not directed through Whatsapp but said Guardian The fact that Apple informed him of a “mercenary attack attack” on November 13th.

At this point, it is unclear whether Yambio is part of the same hacking campaign as those aimed at Paragon’s spyware.

Neither paragon nor spokesman for the Italian government responded to TechCrunch’s requests for comment.