Paragon Solutions – A Spyware Maker in the Spotlight
Serious charges have been brought against Israeli spying software manufacturer Paragon Solutions. According to a recent Citizen Lab research, a number of governments have spied on journalists, activists, and regular citizens using Paragon’s spyware This is worrying because police were supposed to use the software to catch criminals and terrorists—not to track innocent citizens.
Ehud Barak, a former Israeli Prime Minister, and Ehud Schneorson, a former leader of Unit 8200 (Israel’s signals intelligence agency), founded Paragon in 2019. They promote their main spyware product, Graphite, as a “safer” alternative to other invasive tools like Pegasus by NSO Group. Unlike Pegasus, Graphite does not fully control a phone.
Instead, it secretly reads messages from apps like WhatsApp without taking over the entire device. However, Citizen Lab claims that governments are misusing Paragon’s spyware. Instead of using it only for crime investigations, they are reportedly turning it on innocent people—those who fight for justice, protect human rights, or reveal the truth.
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Secret Infiltration Through Messaging Apps
Paragon’s spyware is both sneaky and dangerous. According to Citizen Lab, it uses a “zero-click” exploit to infect devices. This means the target does not need to tap on a link or open a file. The spyware silently enters their phone without any action from the victim.
Citizen Lab worked with Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, to expose Paragon’s actions. Meta found that Paragon was using weaknesses in WhatsApp to install its spyware. Meta later blocked the exploit and warned around 90 people—including journalists and civil society members—who were believed to be targets.
The victims had no idea they were being spied on. The spyware may have read their private chats, tracked their location, or monitored their actions without them knowing. Some of the confirmed targets were based in Italy, including well-known figures from the media and humanitarian groups.
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Global Concerns Over Spyware Abuse
Several governments, including Australia, Canada, Singapore, Cyprus, Denmark, and Israel, are reportedly using Paragon’s spyware. These countries have bought the tools for legal surveillance purposes. However, they have allegedly misused the spyware against activists and journalists. This raises concerns about how governments are using such tools and who they are spying on.
Spyware like Graphite is extremely dangerous. It allows governments and organizations to watch people without their knowledge or permission. They could expose journalists’ sources and private information. They could also track activists’ plans and locations, putting them in danger.
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Tech experts and privacy groups warn that these types of attacks are becoming more common. They urge journalists, activists, and civil society members to take extra precautions. Experts recommend using secure messaging apps, keeping devices updated, and working with cybersecurity specialists to stay safe.
The revelations about Paragon’s spyware add to growing concerns over how governments are misusing surveillance technology. While authorities claim they use such tools to fight crime, their abuse against innocent people raises serious questions about privacy and human rights in today’s world.
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