Facebook-owned WhatsApp tells users to update to latest version to foil spyware
WhatsApp, the messaging and audio app owned by Facebook FB, -0.30% said Monday that malicious hackers were able to install spyware on Android smartphones and Apple AAPL, +0.79% iPhones. The surveillance software could be remotely installed on a user’s phone by calling them over the internet .
Citizen Lab, a research and development group at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the University of Toronto, tweeted TWTR, +1.54% Monday, “We believe an attacker tried to exploit it as recently as yesterday to target a human rights lawyer.” WhatsApp’s website states: “Privacy and security is in our DNA.” It adds, “Some of your most personal moments are shared with WhatsApp, which is why we built end-to-end encryption into our app. When end-to-end encrypted, your messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, and calls are secured from falling into the wrong hands.”
The NSO Group said in a statement: “NSO’s technology is licensed to authorized government agencies for the sole purpose of fighting crime and terror.” It added, “Under no circumstances would NSO be involved in the operating or identifying of targets of its technology, which is solely operated by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.”
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