WhatsApp warning issued to iPhone and Android users over potential data hack – ‘delete these apps now’
As convenient as WhatsApp is to use, cases of hackers impersonating the messaging app to steal personal details are unfortunately common.
Millions of iPhone and Android users have been warned about two different threats targeting their phones.
Cybercriminals use two methods that can either disable your phones from sending messages or steal your highly personal details from your device.
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People are being asked to be careful about the apps they download to their phones, which could leave them vulnerable. Here’s everything you need to be aware of to protect yourself from bad actors on WhatsApp.
What is the WhatsApp warning for Android users?
The first warning is for anyone with an Android phone where criminals are targeting phones through the use of an unofficial or fake version of WhatsApp.
The app called YoWahtsApp comes with a nasty malware called Triada. Once installed on your phone, this bug allows hackers to take full control of your account and use it to send money-stealing messages to everyone in your contacts.
This type of scam using fake apps is more common on Android, as it is not possible to add apps to an iPhone without a vetting process from Apple.
What WhatsApp warning has been given to iPhone users?
While iPhone users may be safer from fake apps, an upcoming change will also affect WhatsApp usage for them as well.
In May, the Meta-owned app announced that it was dropping support for all iPhones that cannot run Apple’s iOS 12 operating system or later.
While all the newer Apple phones won’t face a problem because of this, anyone with an iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c will no longer be compatible with newer software.
People with incompatible devices will receive notifications that read: “Update to the latest version of iOS to continue using WhatsApp. WhatsApp will stop supporting this version of iOS after October 24, 2022.”
Alongside this pop-up, WhatsApp has also updated its support page with a message saying: “We currently support and recommend using the following devices: Android running OS 4.1 and above, iPhone running iOS 12 and above.”
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