According to BBC A bug in the popular messaging service WhatsApp put up to 200 million of its users at risk, security firm Check Point has warned.
The flaw allows hackers to distribute malware, including ransomware, which demands victims pay a fee to regain access to their files.
The vulnerability affects only the web-based version of the service.
WhatsApp was alerted to the problem at the end of last month and immediately issued a patch.
Check Point urged users to update their WhatsApp software immediately to take advantage of the fix.
Ransomware
The WhatsApp web app is a mirror version of its mobile app, enabling all messages, images and other content received on a smartphone to be accessed from a web browser.
There are currently over 200 million active users of the web app, according to statistics released by the firm this year. This compares to 900 million users of the smartphone app.
WhatsApp was bought by Facebook in February 2014.
According to Check Point, the vulnerability was caused by the way the service handles contacts sent in the vCard (virtual card) format.
All a hacker needed to do to send a virtual business card that looked legitimate was know their target's mobile number.
Once opened the vCard could distribute malicious code.
One expert said it was relatively easy for hackers to get hold of mobile numbers that have been disclosed via other breaches.
"Bearing in mind that WhatsApp is a cross-platform mobile messaging app, the chances of you opening a vCard sent to you is quite high," commented Mark James, a specialist at security firm ESET.
"Once opened it could attempt to download and infect your system with ransomware."
Check Point alerted WhatsApp about the problem on 21 August and a week later it issued a fix.
someone please explain tbis to me, thank you!
ReplyDeleteHow wouid u know when all u tink about is how to get married u see your life. U are there pursuing husband and forgot to make a life now even husband u no see sense u no get.
DeleteWhat do we need to do
DeleteKikikikikikiki
DeleteAbeg when someone does extend it 2 me. Tnx.
Deletelol all these software engineers can speak in foreign language
DeleteLOL @Tessybabby and precious
Delete@tesbaby.....I like u jare.....abeg me dey find wife ooo....jokings apart
DeleteWhat can we do
Deleteanonymous bad bele thank you oooo!
DeleteAbegeer
ReplyDeleteEheeeeeeen?
ReplyDeleteAbeg ooo.
ReplyDeleteAeegurl...
I rarely use whatsapp. Ain't bothered.
ReplyDeletewww.ckjacob.com
I don't even understand the write up
ReplyDeleteSame here. I don read am tire and I no understand too
DeleteMake una nor worry, shudnt be a problem for us on this side of d planet cos a lot of u don't know of, talkless of use d Web version of WhatsApp. So don't worry ur pretty heads ladies!
DeleteThat said don't click on any strange looking link esp a link sent to u from any random number u don't know on WhatsApp
DeleteLol..
DeleteThank God I'm not alone..
We plenty wey no understand am..
Hian! Nsogbu
ReplyDeleteCould all these be a computer or machine languages? I don't even understand the gist.
ReplyDeleteSEE
Some marriage advice nobody will tell you till you marry
Pls explain in EASY AND SIMPLE LANGUAGE for me to understand.
ReplyDeleteThere's a Web version of WhatsApp ie u can open it on u laptop or desktop. That's d o affected by d bug. So if u only use use WhatsApp on u phone den don't worry about it
DeleteThey should bring out an update that fixes all these grammar and we download and continue from where we stopped.
ReplyDeleteSo many jargons, can't understand.
ReplyDeleteWhy not read again if u don't understand..very straight forward
ReplyDeleteShey uncle ni abi anti Bisi? Oya, e salaye
DeleteLOL Bitchplis
DeleteIfa hear.....
ReplyDeleteExplain better pls.
ReplyDeletePamscrib.blogspot.com
In summary ________
ReplyDeleteWhat ya Say? Ya understang jaweeee..
ReplyDeleteSo what do they want us to do now?
ReplyDeleteI dnt understand d write-up. Who understood all that? Pls explain.
ReplyDeleteWhatever...I receive a notification, i reply, Period.
ReplyDeleteToo much grammar, summary pls
ReplyDeleteDumb loud mouths on this blog.....empty brains that can't read, but if it's a story on sex, men, money and marriage they will comprehend.....shioooooor
ReplyDeleteCommon basic English una no fit understand. Tufiaaa!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat are they even saying
ReplyDeleteNext !!!!!
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
No weapon fashion against my whatsapp shall prosper shah.....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Haa...ransomeware that's gonna be bad.
ReplyDeleteIt means the hacker will tell you to pay them or you will never see the files on the affected hardware.
Nobody seem to understand,the people bragging and yabbing pls pity us and explain,as u can see its a general problem!
ReplyDeleteI think all they are just saying is that WhatsApp was vulnerable at some point and your phone can be hacked into as a result of that. Not just that, your phone or system can get a virus. However, there's been an update from WhatsApp so go ahead and download the update so your devices can be safe. I think that's the summary of all the grammar up there.
ReplyDeleteSummarily, hackers can hack ur accout especially people that watsapp with system. I ghotago?
ReplyDeleteOk. I really need to do what was prescribed. Anyways,I do not understand what they said sha.
ReplyDeleteI thought all of u here understand and write english more than a professor
ReplyDeleteAlways correcting my gbagauns!
Una no fit understand simple thing said about whatsaspp!
Hahahahahaha! I can't stop laughing in greek,
Plenty olodo dey dis blog
Mine na shikini matter
Now I know and can sleep in peace
All this fakes, posers and wannabes!!
Kikikikiki!
E pele!