WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart shared a Twitter thread warning against fake apps that claim they can imitate messages. These apps may appear to have additional functions, but they hide malicious code that can be used to steal personal information.
Now it is well-known that hackers are rampant on WhatsApp. It is easy to see that the application has millions upon millions of users all over the globe, making it easy for hackers to lure them into its traps. Hackers will not hesitate to use phishing campaigns most often. This attack, which only requires one call to seize the account of the victim, is an example of this ingenious hacker.
Fake apps are another threat. Will Cathcart (the boss of WhatsApp) explains on Twitter that many applications claim to mimic messages and offer additional features to lure victims. This includes hey WhatsApp, a malicious alternative created by HeyMods.
These fake apps that imitate WhatsApp are to be avoided
Will Cathcart writes that these apps “promised new features, but were just a scam to take personal information stored on phones,” and then goes on to state that he shared what he found with Google to fight malicious apps.
This means that only Android users are at risk because Apple does not allow third-party applications to be installed on iPhones. However, this could change in Europe soon. Google Play Protection, for example, can detect these threats even after an application has been installed on a person’s phone. “Malware on smartphones must be stopped and cybersecurity experts must continue to create new ways to stop it from spreading,” says WhatsApp boss. He also reminds us that it is always better to use the traditional blinds to download the applications, or to download the APKs directly from their website.
