Everyone's favorite chat-app, which is used by 1.5 billion people globally, WhatsApp has asked its user to immediately update the app due to a security bug that allows the hackers to access your phone by just calling you. It doesn't matter you answer the call or not.
Can Your Phone Be Affected?
Certainly. As per Facebook, all the brands that have WhatsApp or Whatsapp Business installed are affected including Apple's iPhone, Window phones, Android phones, and Tizen devices.
According to Facebook, a vulnerability in WhatsApp has allowed the hackers to install spyware through WhatsApp video call. The spyware can activate the camera, microphones and other features of the phone through calls and messages.
Where Did The Bug Come From?
As per a report by Financial Times, the spyware was developed by Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group that allows the access without the acceptance of call by the user and stays hidden in call logs.
Not all targets of the spyware have been identified yet and if you have not received any random WhatsApp voice or video call yet, you have probably not been targeted at the moment.
How Can You Protect Your Phone?
Facebook had sent out an update to protect the users' phone on Monday. It is strongly adviced that you manually check your Google Play and App Stores for an update.
In case you are unable to do so, you can uninstall the app for a while to protect your phone.
Make sure you are using the updated version of the app. To check the newest version for your phone, you can go on WhatsApp's site. It's listed there. However, just updating the app is also a confirmation that you are using the latest version.
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whatsapp news