WhatsApp users should be aware of the latest fake WhatsApp app, which contains malware that can harm their devices. According to the latest report from Malware protection and Internet Security firm ESET.
India is among the countries with the highest number of Android infections, with threat detections increasing by 9.5 percent.
Surprisingly, the majority of these apps are the work of GB WhatsApp, which is a third-party WhatsApp clone.
What is this Malware?
According to the report, the fake WhatsApp app provides its users with almost all of the standard features of the real app, as well as some additional benefits.
These trojan-loaded apps deliver malware files that can infiltrate a target device undetected and even secretly record audio and video.
Worse, it will not be detected right away and will gradually spy on your smartphone’s day-to-day activities.
GB WhatsApp is responsible for a large portion of Android/Spy Agent detections detected in ESET telemetry. WhatsApp is a popular but cloned (and thus unofficial) third-party WhatsApp app with additional features.
The cloned app, however, is not available on Google Play; there are no security checks in place compared to the legitimate WhatsApp, and versions available on various download websites are embedded with malware, according to the report.
It goes on to say that WhatsApp is temporarily banning accounts that use such unsupported apps, and that if they continue to use them, they will be permanently barred from using WhatsApp.
The majority of such apps have been discovered in Egypt, Brazil, India, and Peru. However, China (53%) and India (35%), according to the report, continue to have the highest number of IoT bots geolocated within their respective countries.
What you need to do?
- WhatsApp users should always download their app and updates from the Google Play Store and avoid installing any unknown third-party apps.
- Examine the details of your WhatsApp application. If it appears malicious or fake, uninstall it immediately.
- You should keep an eye on the security of your smartphone and consider installing an authenticated antivirus on it.
