WhatsApp: Italian surveillance company tricked around 200 users into downloading spyware

WhatsApp said the campaign was "highly targeted" and relied on deception to get victims to install "malware masquerading as WhatsApp."

Messaging service WhatsApp said an Italian surveillance company tricked around 200 users into downloading a fake version of its popular app, which was set up to spy on victims.

In a statement, the service, owned by Meta Platforms, said the campaign was carried out by ASIGINT, a subsidiary of SIO based in northern Italy, whose website states that it offers "highly effective, field-proven solutions and technology for cyber intelligence operations."

WhatsApp said the campaign was "highly targeted" and relied on deception to get victims to install "malware masquerading as WhatsApp." It did not identify the victims, except to say they were "mostly" in Italy, Reuters reported.

The SIO, which says on its website that it works with "law enforcement agencies, government organizations, police and intelligence services," did not respond to a request for . The Italian Interior Ministry referred questions to the police, who also did not respond.

This is the second time in the last 15 months that Meta has publicly suspended spyware-related activities in Italy, which is still dealing with the fallout from the revelation in early 2025 of a surveillance operation carried out using spyware from the US company Paragon. Italy and Paragon have since severed ties.