There is some new WhatsApp app hack news about a vulnerability that has recently been exposed. Unlike many other such attacks, this particular WhatsApp hack appears to have only targeted specific people. Disturbingly, the identified targets so far include human rights organizations, journalists, and lawyers in 45 countries.
According to Sky News, the WhatsApp hack was allegedly executed by the Israeli technology company NSO Group. NSO Group claims that its “Pegasus” technology is only used by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In essence, they’re implying that the hack was ordered by a law enforcement or intelligence agency of a nation, although they didn’t specify which one. Amnesty International is currently taking the Israeli Ministry of Defense to court to challenge the NSO Group’s export licenses.
Worryingly, this WhatsApp app hack news tells us that this is a “no click” attack. Unlike some other cyberattacks that require the user to interact with a malicious message or program, the WhatsApp hack can be executed entirely without the user’s knowledge. Essentially, users on versions of the app that are vulnerable to this hack have no way to defend against it whatsoever. Cybersecurity professionals consider the attack “extraordinary.”
According to the WhatsApp app hack news, the only way to safeguard against this particular vulnerability is to ensure that you have the latest version of the app. Understandably, we’re all occasionally a bit lazy about updating the apps on our smartphone, but anything containing sensitive communications should be especially protected. Make sure that you keep your most important apps up to date, lest you fall victim to one of these hacks.
There is no way to know for certain if you’ve been targeted by this WhatsApp hack. For now, it’s best to double-check that your app is updated to its later version. That aside, never forget this one truism of the Internet: anything you post online could potentially be dug up by someone, especially when a law enforcement or intelligence agency is reportedly backing them.
