Spyware

NSO Group Seeks New Trial After WhatsApp’s $168 Million Victory Over Spyware Claims

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SAN FRANCISCO — NSO Group is seeking a new trial in a lawsuit initiated by WhatsApp, following a jury verdict that awarded the messaging platform $168 million in damages. The Israeli spyware firm submitted its motion in a California federal court last week, requesting that the court reevaluate the jury’s decision and reduce the punitive award. In May, the jury determined that NSO exploited vulnerabilities within WhatsApp’s encrypted messaging application, selling this exploit to clients believed to have used it for surveillance of journalists, activists, and political figures. WhatsApp originally filed the lawsuit in 2019, … Read more

NSO Group Appeals $168 Million Verdict in WhatsApp Spyware Case, Claims Jury’s Award May Lead to Bankruptcy

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San Francisco, California – NSO Group has filed an appeal following a jury’s decision that awarded $168 million to WhatsApp for the company’s alleged facilitation of spyware attacks on approximately 1,400 mobile devices. This legal battle centers on the company’s controversial zero-click surveillance technology, which allows government clients to infiltrate phones without any interaction from the users. In a court filing submitted on Thursday, NSO Group requested that the federal judge presiding over the case in Northern California either significantly lower the punitive damages awarded or allow for a new trial. The punitive damages were … Read more

NSO Group Fights Back: Seeks New Trial Over Court’s Record $168 Million Punitive Damages in Spyware Case

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San Francisco, California — A U.S. jury has awarded nearly $168 million in punitive damages against NSO Group Technologies, a decision that the company describes as excessively punitive and will seek to overturn. The punitive damages awarded in relation to the controversial "Pegasus" spyware far exceed the compensatory damages by a staggering 376 times, which NSO argues necessitates a new trial. NSO contends that the jury’s decision is not only unjust but also reflects a broader animosity toward the firm, rather than being based solely on the specific conduct warranting punitive damages. The company asserts … Read more

WhatsApp Triumphs: Jury Slams NSO Group with $167 Million Verdict Over Spyware Attack

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San Francisco, California — WhatsApp achieved a significant legal victory against NSO Group when a jury awarded the Meta-owned messaging platform over $167 million in damages. The ruling marks the conclusion of a protracted legal battle that began in October 2019, following WhatsApp’s allegations that NSO Group exploited a vulnerability in its audio-calling feature to hack the accounts of more than 1,400 users. This landmark decision emerged from a trial that lasted a week and included testimonies from several key figures, including NSO Group’s CEO Yaron Shohat and WhatsApp employees involved in the investigation. The … Read more