BG Staff
According to TechCrunch, WhatsApp has requested its 1.5 billion users to immediately upgrade the app after it has discovered a serious vulnerability. The vulnerability allows spyware to be installed on phones through the app phone call function. Spyware, allegedly developed by a cyber intelligence company NGO group, attacks the audio call and installs itself on the user smartphones.
Although WhatsApp says it has fixed the patch that caused the vulnerability but encourages every WhatsApp user to immediately upgrade to the latest version of the app.
“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices”.
“The attack has all the hallmarks of a private company reportedly that works with governments to deliver spyware that takes over the functions of mobile phone operating systems,” the WhatsApp statement reads.
WhatsApp suspects only a small number of users were targeted but this is a huge security hole and it is hard to find out the number of users actually affected. We request you to immediately upgrade to the latest version of the app.
