The Lucrative Market for WhatsApp Zero-days

The market for zero-day exploits, particularly for popular messaging app WhatsApp, has seen a significant increase in value, with prices ranging from $1.7 to $8 million. A Russian company recently offered $20 million for chains of bugs that could compromise iOS and Android devices. The high prices can be attributed to the scarcity of researchers willing to work with Russia due to geopolitical tensions. WhatsApp has been a prime target for government hackers, and leaked documents reveal the sale of a "zero click RCE" exploit for around $1.7 million. Exploits targeting WhatsApp are valuable as they allow for spying on specific targets without compromising the entire device.