According to recent reports we have gotten from our sources, a certain weakness has been observed in Facebook owned messaging app known as WhatsApp and there are some who are taking advantage of this weakness to inject commercial spyware onto android and iOS mobile phones, this they do by calling the target. As we have been told by WhatsApp and security researchers, this spyware which was originally developed by the secret NSO group of Israel can be installed without anyone noticing it and target wouldn’t even need to answer the call.
As soon as the spyware is installed, it can put a phone’s camera and mic on, scan emails and messages, and even collect the user’s location and data. As a result, WhatsApp is advising all its users across the globe to update their WhatsApp apps as soon as possible in order to protect themselves from the security breach.
WhatsApp while making a statement regarding the matter stated thus:
“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices.”
Our sources tell us that the spyware was discovered earlier this month and all attention was turned to it especially since a human rights lawyer based in the United Kingdom was attacked by the flagship program of Israeli’s NSO. The assault was blocked by WhatsApp and the company is also investigating the matter, be that as it may, there is no saying exactly how many phones that have been targeted successfully as a source of ours pointed out.
WhatsApp comments:
“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. We have briefed a number of human rights organizations to share the information we can, and to work with them to notify civil society.”
NSO claims that it trades Pegasus to governments and law enforcement authorities to aid in the fight against terrorist acts and criminal offence. This however has not put a stop to the use of its spyware by countries, organizations, individuals who care less for human rights’ interests. Three years ago, NSO spyware was culpably involved in an attack against an Emirate Human Rights activist by the name of Ahmed Mansoor and last year, the attack was targeted at TV journalist, Carmen Aristegui and 11 other people when an investigation was being conducted over a scandal that involved the President of Mexico.
Researchers are of the opinion that the NSO spyware has been used by almost 45 nations to support the ill-treatment of dissidents, journalists, and innocent persons.
