In a landmark ruling, a federal jury in California has ordered Israeli spyware company NSO Group to pay approximately $170 million to Meta and WhatsApp after finding it responsible for hacking around 1,400 users through its infamous Pegasus program. The judgment, which includes $167 million in punitive damages and $440,000 in compensatory damages, marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle for digital privacy rights and accountability for private surveillance companies, as reported by The Hill.
The legal saga began in 2019 when WhatsApp filed a lawsuit against NSO after discovering that its Pegasus software had been used to breach the devices of its users, including journalists and human rights activists. WhatsApp stated, "This ruling represents an important step in protecting privacy and security, as it is the first legal victory against the development and use of illegal spyware that threatens everyone’s safety." The company emphasized that holding NSO accountable is a crucial deterrent for the malicious industry that targets American companies and their users' privacy.
In response to the ruling, NSO described the decision as "an additional step in a lengthy legal process," maintaining that its technologies are utilized solely by licensed governmental entities to combat crime and terrorism. The court had previously ruled in December that NSO was liable for the hacking of hundreds of mobile phones using Pegasus, paving the way for this week’s final judgment.
As WhatsApp continues to evolve from a simple messaging app to a comprehensive platform with features like group calls, stories, and payments, the focus on privacy has become increasingly critical. With billions of active users, protecting accounts from unauthorized access and safeguarding conversations has never been more vital. If users are concerned about their privacy on WhatsApp, there are specific settings they can adjust to ensure their information remains secure.
Here are five essential privacy features that can help users protect their accounts and conversations:
1. Fully Encrypted Backups
WhatsApp now offers fully encrypted backups, ensuring that conversations and media stored in the cloud are protected. Whether using Google Drive on Android or iCloud on iPhone, this feature guarantees that only the user can access their backups. Even WhatsApp, Google, or Apple cannot read the contents of the backup. To activate this feature, users should open WhatsApp, go to Settings, then Chats, and select Chat Backup, followed by choosing "End-to-End Encrypted Backup." A password or a 64-digit encryption key must be created, and once set, WhatsApp will encrypt backups, safeguarding them from unauthorized access.
2. Advanced Chat Privacy
WhatsApp's advanced chat privacy settings provide additional security for individual or group conversations. This feature prevents users from exporting or saving media from these chats to their devices, offering a higher level of privacy for sensitive discussions. To enable this, users can click on the chat name, select "Advanced Chat Privacy," and adjust settings to restrict unwanted access to their conversations.
3. Two-Step Verification
Two-step verification adds an extra layer of protection to WhatsApp accounts. Once activated, it requires a six-digit PIN to register the phone number on a new device. To enable it, users should open WhatsApp, tap the three dots in the top right corner, go to Settings, then Account, and select Two-Step Verification. Following the prompts will help set up the PIN. Users can also add an email address to reset the PIN if necessary, ensuring that no one can easily access their account without the PIN.
4. Control Who Can Add You to Groups
WhatsApp's group privacy feature allows users to control who can add them to group chats. By default, anyone with the user’s phone number can add them to a group, but this can be restricted by selecting one of three options: Everyone, My Contacts, or My Contacts Except (to exclude specific people). If someone attempts to add a user to a group without permission, they will be prompted to send an invitation instead. To activate this feature, users should go to Settings, then Privacy, and select Groups to choose their preferred setting.
5. Hide Last Seen and Online Status
For those who prefer not to share their last seen or online status with everyone, WhatsApp allows users to hide this information from specific contacts or all users. To enable this feature, users can navigate to Settings, then Privacy, and choose Last Seen and Online Status, selecting whether they want to hide it from specific contacts or everyone. This setting also affects who can see the user's online status, allowing for tailored privacy preferences.
In summary, these settings are easy to activate but significantly enhance privacy on WhatsApp. By enabling these features, users can take control of their data and minimize unnecessary exposure while using the app.
