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WhatsApp referred spyware attack to US Justice Department

14 May 2019 16:59 (UTC +04:00)

WhatsApp’s spokesman has stated that the company has referred the cyber breach incident, referencing earlier reports of the messenger being used to hack users' phones, to the US Department of Justice, ONA reports citing Sputnik.

The company noted that the attack was "pretty sophisticated" and has "all the hallmarks of a private company working with governments on surveillance".

The Financial Times earlier reported that the Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group had allegedly found a way to use the messenger platform's calling mechanism to hack into people’s phones without their consent.

Earlier, WhatsApp notified a number of human rights organizations across the world about the possible breach.