Paragon Spyware: Journalists Targeted | EU Investigation
- European journalists were targeted by Graphite, a spyware product from the Israeli company Paragon, according to Citizen lab.
- Apple notified targeted iOS users on April 29, 2025, about the advanced spyware.
- The investigation also identified a link between the two cases, suggesting a single Paragon operator.Apple has since addressed the vulnerability, CVE-2025-43200, in iOS 18.3.1.
European journalists are under fire: Paragon’s Graphite spyware—using a zero-click iOS exploit—targeted them, triggering privacy concerns across the continent. This elegant attack, revealed by Citizen Lab, affected prominent figures like an anonymous European journalist and Ciro Pellegrino, as confirmed by forensic analysis. Italy has already admitted to using the spyware, escalating the controversy. Apple patched the vulnerability (CVE-2025-43200) in iOS 18.3.1,but the investigation continues to reveal the full scope of the operation and potential victims. News Directory 3 provides up-to-the-minute coverage of these kinds of developments.What’s next in this ongoing battle against digital threats? Discover what’s next….
Paragon spyware Targets European Journalists, Raising Privacy Concerns
Updated June 13, 2025
European journalists were targeted by Graphite, a spyware product from the Israeli company Paragon, according to Citizen lab. The spyware, leveraging a zero-click exploit on iOS, infiltrated the devices of multiple journalists.
Apple notified targeted iOS users on April 29, 2025, about the advanced spyware. Forensic analysis confirmed that a prominent european journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, and Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino were victims of Paragon’s Graphite mercenary spyware.
The investigation also identified a link between the two cases, suggesting a single Paragon operator.Apple has since addressed the vulnerability, CVE-2025-43200, in iOS 18.3.1.
“Our analysis finds forensic evidence confirming with high confidence that both a prominent European journalist (who requests anonymity), and Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino, were targeted with Paragon’s Graphite mercenary spyware,” Citizen lab reported.
Italy has acknowledged its use of spyware. The confirmed Italian cases are detailed in a report appendix.
What’s next
Ongoing analysis seeks to uncover the full scope of the spyware campaign and identify additional targets. The incident underscores the growing threat of refined hacking and the importance of digital security for journalists and individuals alike. the use of spyware and surveillance technology continues to be a concern for privacy advocates.