#Beware #infected #imitations #WhatsApp
With its billions of users, and therefore potential victims, WhatsApp is often the target of hackers who are not without ingenuity or courage to achieve their ends. Therefore, the app is regularly targeted by phishing campaigns. In some cases, scammers even randomly call users to convince them to dial a special number. If the person contacted complies, they are logged out of their WhatsApp account, while the hackers take control of their account. And that’s without taking into account the rogue and virulent apps that are currently rife in app stores and websites…
Will Cathcart, director of WhatsApp at Meta Group, which also owns Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, warned users in a tweet about fake WhatsApp apps. Although they promise additional features, they actually contain malware that steals victims’ personal data. This is the case of the Hey WhatsApp application, which offers, among other things, to customize its interface.
“Downloading a fake or modified version of WhatsApp is never a good idea. These apps seem harmless, but they can bypass WhatsApp’s privacy and security guarantees,” says Will Cathcart. That is why it is essential to download the WhatsApp application through the official store or on the website of the messaging service.
This issue is only for Android users as Play Store contains many infected apps. Apple, on the other hand, only allows you to download apps approved by the App Store. Fortunately, WhatsApp is currently working with Google to combat this problem. For example, Google Play Protect can now detect and disable these malicious apps, even after you’ve installed them.
“Of course, we will continue our efforts to detect and block such applications in the future. We are also taking enforcement action against Hey Mods to prevent future harm and will explore new legal options to hold others like them accountable,” said Will Cathcart. “Mobile phone malware is a pernicious threat that must be countered, and the security community continues to develop new ways to prevent its spread. Similarly, WhatsApp continues to add new features to its messaging, such as the ability to have one account for two smartphones and new privacy features, to discourage its users from turning to third-party apps.
If alternative stores are authorized on Android –Amazon App Store, AppGallery, Samsung Galaxy Store–, this is not the case with Apple devices. The firm of the apple justifies this decision in the need to secure the personal and banking data of users, something that it cannot do without having total control of all the links in the value chain. By preventing the installation of prohibited apps, Apple prevents the installation of malware. In return, he charges the developers a lot…
However, Apple may soon be forced to open up its operating system by allowing access to the competition. In fact, the European Union is in the process of implementing new rules for digital players: the DMA (Digital Markets Act) and the DSA (Digital Services Act). “The European Parliament has achieved a world first by adopting strong and ambitious regulation of online platforms,” said Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president of the Committee on Digital Affairs. “The Digital Services Law helps protect users’ rights online, while the Digital Markets Law helps create fair and open online markets. (…) The big platforms will have to refrain from promoting their own interests, and they will have to share their data with other companies and allow more app stores. »
Sources: editorial and web
With its billions of users, and therefore potential victims, WhatsApp is often the target of hackers who are not without ingenuity or courage to achieve their ends. Therefore, the app is regularly targeted by phishing campaigns. In some cases, scammers even randomly call users to convince them to dial a number…