Scam alert: Fake emails from WhatsApp spark controversy

Scam alert: Fake emails from WhatsApp spark controversy

 Pakistan  Pakistan

A new scam on the Meta-owned WhatsApp involving criminal hackers sending forged emails has been making rounds lately.

WhatsApp is the most-used instant messaging application, but it has become the main target of hackers and scammers trying to steal the data of various users of the application in recent months.

A few days back, Spain’s Internet Security Office (ISO) and the Institute of Cybersecurity detected a new scam on the popular messaging app, which has started to be replicated in various countries.

The email’s subject is “Backup of WhatsApp messages 913071605 Nº (xxxxx)”.

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The user falls for the scam and clicks the email, thinking that WhatsApp has sent him a backup of his conversations in the app.

However, the email contains an attachment with an executable virus that is instantly installed on the victim’s device.

Once inside the computer system, the virus steals information, tracks location, bugs passwords, and copies the victim’s device credentials.

To prevent the virus from installing on your computer or smartphone, never download files to your device from strange emails that you receive. It merits mentioning that such emails come from your contacts at times, but you never know if they have been hacked too or have had their data stolen or worse.

Similarly, Android users should be cautious as it is easier to install third-party apps that are not available on the Google Play Store but could be malware.

Similarly, a device’s operating system should be up to date due to its better privacy settings made for modified viruses. Moreover, a user should never download any file from WhatsApp, as many times it is a scam, a virus or malware whose intent is to damage the victim’s device.

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