WhatsApp vs NSO Group: $167M Spyware Lawsuit Exposed

WhatsApp wins $167M lawsuit against NSO Group. Discover how Pegasus spyware targeted users & what this means for your digital privacy.
Matilda
WhatsApp vs NSO Group: $167M Spyware Lawsuit Exposed
WhatsApp vs NSO Group: Major Lawsuit Reveals Spyware Secrets If you're wondering what happened in the WhatsApp vs NSO Group lawsuit , or how Pegasus spyware works , you're not alone. In a landmark verdict in May 2025, a U. S. jury ordered Israeli spyware maker NSO Group to pay $ 167 million in damages to WhatsApp, part of Meta. This legal victory ends a five- year battle that started when WhatsApp discovered its users had been hacked through a zero- click vulnerability — a serious breach of digital privacy that alarmed cybersecurity experts worldwide. The case has shed light on how commercial spyware operates , who it targets, and which governments are involved.                  Image : Google A Five- Year Legal Battle Over Digital Surveillance The legal fight began in October 2019 , when WhatsApp accused NSO Group of exploiting a vulnerability in its voice- calling feature. According to court documents, the attack targeted over 1,400 users , many of them journalists, activists, and dissidents— …