WhatsApp Spyware Alert Italy Campaign

WhatsApp's May 2026 security alert to 200 users in Italy uncovered a sophisticated iOS spyware app mimicking the messaging platform, demonstrating advanced social engineering tactics. The spyware achieves 90% infection success via tailored phishing, a rate 40% higher than typical mobile malware campaigns in Europe. While narrower in scope than Lightning's 15,000-project impact, this campaign illustrates a 50% increase in targeted mobile espionage since 2025, warning organizations about regional threats.