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ISLAMABAD:
Hoping to get New Year’s gifts, you may end up getting your WhatsApp hacked, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has warned in a notice issued on Sunday.
The agency urged people to be wary of New Year scams. Messages containing “congratulatory links” or “fake gifts” are currently circulating. Users are advised not to click on unknown links and never share their WhatsApp verification code with anyone, it said.
Experts warn that hackers often disguise spyware as gifts, and a single click can compromise your mobile device or WhatsApp account. This can compromise a user’s files and WhatsApp chats, violating his privacy. The agency urged extreme caution and advised users to avoid clicking on suspicious links.
WhatsApp is a widely used instant messaging platform that allows users to send text messages, voice messages, images, videos, documents, and make voice and video calls over the Internet.
It utilizes end-to-end encryption and ensures that messages are only visible to the sender and receiver, making communication highly secure. However, the app can be compromised through spyware, though not typically through simple hacking like guessing passwords.
Spyware attacks usually target the phone itself and can be installed in several ways. By clicking on malicious links sent via WhatsApp, SMS or email, you can install spyware that reads messages, records calls or captures keystrokes.
Advanced “zero-click” exploits can infect a phone without interaction, sometimes through a missed call or message; these are rare and often target high-profile individuals such as journalists or politicians.
Other risks include compromised backups on Google Drive or iCloud, physical access to the phone and the use of unofficial WhatsApp versions, which are particularly vulnerable.
Once installed, spyware can read chats, listen to calls, access the camera and microphone, track location, and even capture keystrokes or screenshots.
