WhatsApp has issued a warning about a fake version of its app designed to conduct surveillance. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the warning from the Meta-owned messaging app comes after a few hundred iPhone users in Italy were tricked into downloading a fake WhatsApp app. According to the report, WhatsApp said the campaign involved a malicious app that impersonated the messaging app and was used to spy on targeted individuals. The company indicated that the incident affected a limited number of users, primarily in Italy.
What WhatsApp said about Italian iPhone users downloading fake app
In a statement to Reuters, WhatsApp said an Italian surveillance company was behind the operation, which relied on deceptive tactics to distribute the fake app. The company identified the group as ASIGINT, a subsidiary of Italy-based SIO, which describes itself as offering “high-performance, field-proven cyber intelligence solutions and technology.”
WhatsApp described the campaign as “highly targeted,” using deceptive tactics to entice users to install “malicious software that impersonated WhatsApp.” The company did not disclose details about the victims but noted that they were “primarily” located in Italy.The fake app reportedly appeared similar to the official WhatsApp application, making it difficult for users to distinguish between the two. Once installed, it allowed operators to monitor activity on the affected devices, raising concerns about user privacy and data security, the report added.SIO, which states on its website that it works with “Law Enforcement Agencies, Government Organizations, Police and Intelligence Agencies,” did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Italy’s interior ministry directed queries to the police, who also did not immediately respond.WhatsApp has advised users to download apps only from official sources, such as the Apple App Store, and to verify their authenticity before installing them. The company said it continues to monitor such threats and take action against misuse of its platform.In 2025, Meta publicly disrupted spyware activity in Italy. The latest one is the second time in 15 months. Italy continues to deal with fallout from earlier exposure to the surveillance operation involving spyware from the US-owned company Paragon, the report notes. Italy and Paragon have since parted ways.
