I consider WhatsApp to be a great platform, without which I would be practically unable to function. It is used by the nursery to keep us informed about events, incidence of illness and other necessary things. My daughter’s dance coach also uses it as an information channel. And it’s the app through which we send photos to her grandmother who lives far away from us. That’s why I was worried about the information that it was through WhatsApp that hackers could get access to my personal data because of a bug.

WhatsApp security

People who care about protecting their privacy still consider this app to be one of the most secure. So now everyone should be on their guard. The seemingly safe environment of the app, which is often used just for group chats, can in fact be treacherous. There has been talk of a bug.

Check your settings

If you use WhatsApp on your phone, like me, then you should check your settings. This is because a bug has emerged that could make hackers’ job much easier and give them access to your data. The problem was first identified by Google’s Project Zero team. It’s related to the automatic media download feature.

━━ ( Source: lonely blue /  Unsplash+ )

Bug affects Android

According to available information, the discovered bug affects WhatsApp on Android. It involves downloading media without clicking on photos. So you can be attacked just by joining a group and sending a malicious file. If the attacker is focused, it is relatively easy to repeat the attack if he has a list of likely targets.

How to secure WhatsApp

While Meta addressed the issue by enforcing a server change, Google says this only partially solved the problem. Meta is currently working on a comprehensive fix. However, it is advisable to turn off automatic photo downloads. Or enable advanced privacy mode. This is a pretty simple step that anyone can do. And quite possibly more than just protection will result. How many of you have been annoyed by the perpetual automatic downloads? And how many of you thought it was actually quite easy to disable?

Beware of malware

That we should be vigilant when using apps is borne out by the fact that experts at ThreatFabric have confirmed another threat. This is malware that supports a wide range of fraudulent functions, including complete control of the device. With access, attackers can then track everything you do on your phone. Criminals can perform fraudulent actions in the background. They can even read messages, swipe bank details or steal login ones.

The warning applies to those who use WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal on an Android phone. The newly discovered bug is called Sturnus. And what can you do to protect yourself? Stick to only apps from the official store and don’t download anything before reading the review. It’s always worth finding out if the app developer has a good reputation. One important piece of advice in closing. Never add apps you’ve been sent a link to or through social media.