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US court orders Israeli spyware firm to stop targeting WhatsApp | The Express Tribune
NSO, for years, has been accused of facilitating human rights abuses through its flagship hacking tool, Pegasus
US judge issues permanent injunction blocking NSO Group from hacking WhatsApp messaging platform. PHOTO: PIXABAY
A US court has ordered Israel’s NSO Group to stop targeting Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp messaging service, a development the spyware company warned could put it out of business.
In a 25-page ruling, handed down Friday, US District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton imposed a permanent injunction on NSO Group’s efforts to break into WhatsApp, one of the world’s most widely used communications platforms.
Hamilton also handed NSO a significant break on the damages awarded in a recently concluded jury trial, reducing the punitive damages it owes Meta from about $167 million to $4 million.
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The injunction is likely to pose a challenge to NSO, which has for years been accused of facilitating human rights abuses through its flagship hacking tool, Pegasus.
Pegasus takes advantage of weaknesses in commonly deployed pieces of software to power its surveillance, making WhatsApp one of its bigger targets.
NSO has previously argued that an injunction preventing it from going after WhatsApp “would put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk” and “force NSO out of business,” according to the judgment.
Meta executives celebrated the decision.
“Today’s ruling bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again,” WhatsApp Chief Will Cathcart said on X. “We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society.”
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NSO, which has long insisted its products fight serious crime and terrorism, said it welcomed the 97% reduction in punitive damages and said that the injunction did not apply to NSO’s customers, “who will continue using the company’s technology to help protect public safety.”
The company said it would review the decision and “determine its next steps accordingly.”
The company was recently purchased by a group led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds, according to a report, earlier this month in tech publication TechCrunch. Simonds did not immediately return an email.
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Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for April 24, 2026 – check list – The Times of India
Stock market recommendations: Bharat Electronics, and Colgate-Palmolive (India) have been recommended as the top stocks to buy today (April 24, 2026) by Bajaj Broking Research. Take a look at the target prices and expected returns:Bharat ElectronicsBuy in the range of ₹ 440.00-450.00
The stock is in structural up trend forming higher high and higher low in all time frame signaling strength and continuation of the uptrend. The entire up move of the last 8 months is in a rising channel as can be seen in the chart highlighting sustained demand at an elevated level.On the smaller time frame, the stock is at the cusp of generating a breakout above the bullish Flag like formation as post a sharp up move in the first 3 weeks of April the stock went into a consolidation phase in the last four sessions. It is seen resuming up move and is at the cusp of generating a breakout above the bullish Flag formation highlighting continuation of the up move and offers fresh entry opportunity.We expect the stock to extend the up move and head towards 495 levels in the coming months being the confluence of the 123.6% external retracement of the previous decline 473 – 400 and the upper band of the rising channel of the last 8 months.Colgate-Palmolive (India)Buy in the range of 2120-2160
The share price of Colgate-Palmolive has generated a breakout above bullish Flag pattern signaling continuation of the up move and offers fresh entry opportunity.We expect the stock to head higher towards 2330 levels in the coming months being the measuring implication of the bullish flag breakout.The daily 14 periods RSI is in buy mode thus supports the positive bias in the stock.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)
It is unusual for a senior figure at the Bank to be so forthright on market movements.
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Consumer confidence has fallen for the third consecutive month amid household “jitters” over rapid price rises, figures show.
GfK’s long-running consumer confidence index fell four points to minus 25 in April, following falls of two points and three points in March and February respectively.
The deepening concern was driven by perceptions of the UK economy, with a six-point slide in confidence for the next 12 months to minus 43, its lowest level since February 2023.
Confidence in personal finances over the coming year fell five points to minus four – one point lower than this time last year.
The major purchase index – an indicator of confidence in buying big ticket items – held steady, albeit at minus 18 but one point better than last April.
The only measure to improve was the savings index – often an indication that households are concerned about their finances and looking to build contingency funds – which is up five points to 32.
Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, said: “Consumers really do have the jitters now.
“It is a year since we last saw a monthly drop of this size, and we have to go back to October 2023 to find the last time consumer confidence was lower.
“Everyone is grappling with rapid price rises, especially at the fuel pumps, which are taking a dent out of household budgets, and people know further price hikes are coming.
“Consumer confidence is deteriorating sharply, with fuel prices and threats of more energy price increases acting as constant reminders of inflation.
“While the Gulf crisis is intensifying pressures, much of the current strain reflects earlier domestic cost increases.
“How long can all this disruption and pain continue?”
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Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for April 24, 2026 – check list – The Times of India
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