PSA: Update your WhatsApp now, unless you want to get hacked.
The Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCert) issued an alert on 28 September, urging people to install the latest version of the app immediately.
The update fixes two security flaws that could allow hackers to gain complete control of the app, though there has been no reports of such incidents.
System Flaws and Versions Affected
The first vulnerability is a flaw that allows a hacker to control your app while you’re making a video call.
Here are the versions affected for this vulnerability:
- WhatsApp for iOS and Android before version 2.22.16.12
- WhatsApp Business for iOS and Android before version 2.22.16.12.
The second flaw affects WhatsApp’s video file handler component, which may allow hackers to send video files to a user. This vulnerability affects the follow versions:
- WhatsApp for Android before version 2.22.16.2
- WhatsApp for iOS before version 2.22.15.9.
You can search for the latest updates via your respective app stores.
Alternatively, for an easier fix, just enable automatic updates to ensure that your apps are always updated to the latest versions.
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Upcoming Features in Updates
Other than security reasons, WhatsApp is always providing new features that we should update our apps for.
WhatsApp has consistently worked to add new features and enhance existing ones over the years, such as expanding group chat functionality, providing group admins more control, and making chats more interactive.
It has been reported that three WhatsApp features are in the works to be rolled out, in efforts to ramp up users’ privacy on the app.
Non-notified exits from group chats were rolled out in August of this year, and users were also prevented from taking screenshots of view-once media. Your online status could be hidden too, which is a step up from hiding your “Last Seen” status.
BTW, did you know that your “Last Seen” status is already hidden from strangers you text you, even if you didn’t choose to turn it off?
“Install Latest Update Immediately” Stories Getting More Common?
Back in August, authorities advised Chrome users to install the latest security updates ASAP due to “high-severity vulnerabilities”. Apple also urged users to install emergency updates due to new vulnerabilities discovered.
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Seems like while hackers work hard, our tech companies work even harder to fix these problems ASAP.
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Featured Image: Eliseu Geisler / Shutterstock.com
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