Hackers often use very popular services and platforms to launch their attacks. Here we must certainly include WhatsApp . For this reason, in this article we are going to talk about 4 common attacks that can occur through this instant messaging program. The goal is that you can be alert and know when something could really be a scam and avoid falling into the trap.
Common WhatsApp threats
We can say that WhatsApp is today the most important messaging application . It is used by both private users to be in contact with friends or family, as well as companies and organizations to be able to establish contact with clients. In both cases there may be significant security issues.
Fake link
A very common example of an attack via WhatsApp is receiving a link that is fake . Be careful because this could even come from a contact we trust, such as a friend or family member. That person may have been attacked before and is sending links without being aware of it.
We can receive links that take us to a supposed page to log in to social networks, make a purchase on platforms such as Amazon, etc. Normally it is usually something flashy, such as a super offer that makes the victim click on the link and then enter their data to be able to see the content.
File that is malware
Another attack to watch out for is a possible file that is actually malware . Although this messaging service has filters to prevent it from being easy to send viruses, the truth is that it is possible for a document to bypass this security measure and end up reaching the victim.
There have been WhatsApp viruses like ZooPark or Tizi that are distributed through an image or a file sent to us by this application. It is a good idea not to accept these downloads when we do not really know who may be behind them. Otherwise you could be putting your team in serious danger.
Social engineering by messages
A technique that is also widely used by hackers through WhatsApp is social engineering to try to scam through fake messages. A very common trick is to send a message saying that they have mistakenly sent an SMS with 6 digits to that phone and that they can please tell what they are.
Logically it is a two-step authentication code. It will be used so that the attacker can enter a social network or any online service supplanting the identity of the victim. This type of code arrives by SMS to the number of the legitimate user, but of course as soon as we give it to the attacker, he will have total control. There are even methods to hack WhatsApp messages.
Fake updates
One more scam, although this time not directly from the WhatsApp app, is the fake updates. They can appear when you browse the Internet or even when using other applications that may not be trustworthy . It is actually malware that is going to be disguised as a fake update.
What happen? The victim may think that it is good to install that update . After all, it is true that we must always have everything updated and thus avoid problems. But of course, when it comes to a false update things change radically, since it could be a malware that steals data, for example.
In short, these 4 common WhatsApp attacks can put your security at risk. It is important that you always take action, maintain common sense, use security programs and keep everything up to date to avoid vulnerabilities and problems that may affect you.
