WhatsApp, the popular messaging service owned by Facebook, has been hacked!
The weakness allows hackers to install spyware on your phone simply by placing a WhatsApp call to you. You don’t even have to answer the call for it to be activated. Once on your phone, the spyware can search your calls, texts and other information, and can even use your camera and microphone. Since WhatsApp is used by 1.5 billion people globally, the scope for damage is enormous.
Known targets so far have been people in sensitive industries – a human-rights lawyer and a researcher for Amnesty International, amongst them. However, even if you’re not a likely target, it would be advisable to protect yourself against the risk of attack. If you have WhatsApp installed, you need to act. It makes no difference what type of phone you’re using – all manufacturers are affected.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published advice on their website, and it’s worth a browse. The main message is to keep your phone updated with the latest updates at all times. Facebook have released an update that will remove this latest vulnerability. So, if you’re using WhatsApp, you need to download this update onto your device as soon as possible. Have a look in whichever store is relevant to your phone (Apple app store, Google Play, Microsoft app store etc) to get hold of it. If you can’t get your phone updated, it’s probably safest to remove WhatsApp altogether for now.
If you need further advise or help on this, or any other subject relating to security on any of your electronic devices, we’d be happy to chat with you. Do give us a call in the datamills office on 0114 287 0510.