WhatsApp has fixed the "flaw" in the code which exposed its 1,5 billion users to the danger of a spyware attack. But be careful, to be on the safe side, the company has advised all those who use the popular messaging system to update both the application and the operating system to the latest available version.
"WhatsApp encourages people to update the app to the latest version, and to also keep the operating system updated, to protect against potential attacks designed to compromise the information on the device – it reads -. We are constantly working with our partners to provide the latest updates to protect our users."
How do you know you have been exposed to danger? Whatsapp has announced that the vulnerability concerned the versions
- WhatsApp for Android before 2.19.134,
- WhatsApp Business for Android before 2.19.44,
- WhatsApp for iOS before 2.19.51,
- WhatsApp Business for iOS before 2.19.51,
- WhatsApp for Windows Phone before 2.18.348 e
- WhatsApp for Tizen prior to 2.18.15.
The security flaw was discovered in early May and allowed hackers to install spyware on smartphones in order to access the data contained within them. THEThe software was able to install itself into the operating system through voice calls, even without the response and without leaving any trace in the history.
However, WhatsApp has tried to reassure its users, emphasizing that the “victims” were chosen in a “specific” way and that therefore it was not a matter of a large-scale attack. Despite this, the company still can't quantify how many people have actually been hacked with this spyware.
To check if your app is updated or not you need to know that the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS it is 2.19.51. For Android instead the most recent is 2.19.134.
