Apple iPhone users should update this popular messaging app due to a serious security issue

A combination of software flaws could allow attackers to steal personal data from iPhone units

Screenshot of the WhatsApp up for iOS. | Image credit-PhoneArena

The tweets from Ó Cearbhaill note that once the attack is set off, it will “compromise your device and the data it contains, including messages.” The group that is behind the attack is unknown at the moment. Despite WhatsApp’s warning that the messaging app’s vulnerabilities have been limited to iOS and macOS, there are some indications that Android devices night also be included. 

Ó Cearbhaill also suggests that iPhone users enable iOS Lockdown Mode or Android’s Advanced Protection Mode to help protect against attacks. Meanwhile, Meta spokesperson Margarita Franklin says that the flaw was patched just “a few weeks ago,” and that less than 200 notifications were sent out to WhatsApp users affected by the flaw. 

If you received this notification from WhatsApp, your phone might have been compromised

These notifications said, “Our investigation indicates that a malicious message may have been sent to you through WhatsApp and combined with other vulnerabilities in your device’s operating system to compromise your device and the data it contains, including messages. While we don’t know with certainty that your device has been compromised, we want to let you know out of an abundance of caution so you can take steps to secure your device and information.”

When WhatsApp sends you an alert, you should listen. Earlier this year, WhatsApp was able to breakup a spyware campaign that targeted 90 users including journalists and members of Italy’s civil society.

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