WhatsApp Vulnerability made Hackers to Infect iPhones, Android Phones

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A security vulnerability in WhatsApp allowed hacked to deploy spyware on Android devices and iPhones without users even knowing about it.

A report from The Financial Times reveals that the security flaw made it possible for malicious actors to inject Israeli spyware on mobile device using nothing more than a typical WhatsApp call.

By the looks of things, users didn’t even have to answer the calls, as the malicious code was executed in the background. The missed call was most often removed from the call history, which means that users who didn’t notice it in the first place had no idea they were hacked.

The malicious code is linked to Israeli company NSO Group, according to the same report, albeit the company claims it “would, or could not, use its technology in its own right to target any person or organization.” NSO Group builds cyber tools that are then sold to governments across the world for a wide variety of purposes, many of them related to terrorism.

For example, such code can be used to extract data from locked devices that are involved in criminal investigations.

Fix already available
WhatsApp, on the other hand, says it has already resolved the bug, and users are now recommended to install the latest version of the messaging app as soon as possible. WhatsApp has more than 1.5 billion users on Android and iOS, but parent company Facebook can’t share any details as to how many of them might have been targeted in such attacks.

“This attack has all the hallmarks of a private company known to work with governments to deliver spyware that reportedly takes over the functions of mobile phone operating systems,” the company said. “We have briefed a number of human rights organizations to share the information we can, and to work with them to notify civil society.”

WhatsApp has already alerted the United States Department of Justice, and the patch was finalized late on Sunday, while the rollout started early on Monday to devices across the world.

As per WhatsApp, "the issue affects WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.19.134, WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.19.44, WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp for Windows Phone prior to v2.18.348, and WhatsApp for Tizen prior to v2.18.15."