New scams in WhatsApp, Use safely

What We Have Covered in This Article

Last Updated on March 9, 2021 by Editor Futurescope

Scammers have found a way to pass files purportedly from government organizations through WhatsApp instant messaging. However, the documents are actually fraudulent software intended to obtain personal data from the victims.

The new threat appears to have been born in India. The messages, apparently addressed to members of the Police, Army and security agencies are allegedly sent by organizations such as the National Research Agency of India. However, once the documents are opened, it appears that they include a large number of viruses which have already gained access to the data stored on the phone.

These files are capable of extracting personal information such as login and banking data, according to Indian media reports. At the moment, the problem seems to be limited to Android devices.

This fraud is just the latest in a series of hacks carried out through WhatsApp. They often take different forms, but mainly “disguise” messages that seem harmless, but actually able to take control of the device. Therefore, it is recommended not to download suspicious files sent by unknown people and even be alert with messages coming from contacts that might seem safe.

Detect new scams in WhatsApp suck All Your Money

Image credit: https://www.surfeasy.com/blog/are-your-whatsapp-messages-private/

Computer security firm ESET has detected two new scams circulating on WhatsApp that promise to give away discount coupons to victims who share deceptive links.

The first is from the Argentine supermarkets DIA and the second from Argentinian airlines. In the latter case, the airlines used as lure vary depending on the location of the user to show him some place.

These scams come from a WhatsApp contact who forwards the message recommending the service. The victim is made to believe that for the anniversary celebration of one of these companies, discount vouchers or air tickets are given away.

The cases of Argentinian airlines and Day are identical: once you click on the message, you are asked four very general questions.

But, neither company is related to this type of coupons nor are they real promotions. Even Argentinian airlines already reported in its official Facebook account that it is aware of the deception and alerted its customers.

This deception can change language or currency depending on the browser and its configuration.

After answering the four questions, the visitor will be forced to propagate links to 10 contacts or in several WhatsApp groups.

The outcome varies depending on the country where the victim is. In the worst case, distracted users will end up subscribing to SMS Premium services, but may also be induced to install applications or visit advertising links with misleading information.

ESET recommends taking precautions with the offers received through WhatsApp and suggests that, in case of doubt, consult with the corresponding entity.

The WhatsApp Scam That Will Make You Lose

Cybercriminals continue to take advantage of technology platforms to keep the money of the people most confident in the use of these applications. The latest fraud is being committed through the application of WhatsApp messages, where groups called “EMPLOYERS” seek to capture resources from the public.

The SFC found that these groups operate under a typical pyramid scheme, which has organizers, sponsors and administrators to raise money for people with little warning.

That’s how they acted

As is often the case, these cyber-entrepreneurs promise very high returns in a short time, which means that people less familiar with these schemes fall and are exposed to losing their long-term savings.

In this case, the fraud managers promised that in the next 20 days they would receive $ 800,000, of which they would have to contribute half to get $ 3,200,000 in the next 20 days and return to the same operation, leaving half in the scheme Pyramidal to receive the next 20 days $ 12,800,000, giving the option to “leave play” at this point, not without before donate “whatever your heart tells you”.

“EMPLOYERS” corresponds to a closed group with exclusive access through an invitation of a chat participant, who presents encrypted conversations through the WhatsApp application, without identifying a domicile of the managers or administrators of the scheme.

The SFC found that the pyramid collection carried out through the Internet or applications such as WhatsApp or Telegram Messenger, which facilitated the scheme to contact even people outside Colombian territory in countries such as Spain and the United States.

Did you get a strange message in WhatsApp? So you can find out if it is a scam

Experts warn about chains that circulate through the messenger and teach how to distinguish between a joke and possible internet fraud.

There are three types of misleading messages that circulate via WhatsApp, whose objectives range from “annoying” to the most harmful that can include the consumption of credit and theft of information to the user that is why specialists offered a series of recommendations in this regard “Enjoy technology safely.”

“We can divide them into three groups, according to their objectives: the so-called ‘hoax’, and then two types of messages called ‘scam’,” explained head of the Research Laboratory Of ESET Latin America, a computer security company.

These publications work in the form of a campaign driven by attackers who take advantage of WhatsApp, while this messaging service – bought by Facebook in 2014 – adds more than one billion active monthly users and 42 billion messages are sent by that means every day.

In this case, you can mention those that are “chains” or texts that warn that “if you do not forward them to ten friends you will fall bad luck,” he said. “They are the least harmful, but they tend to be annoying.”

Second, there are the “scam” type one, with which it is sought that the user enters a website from his device and subscribes.

“This is what happened a few weeks ago with a message circulating in which they offered supposed discounts on Argentinian airlines tickets. They asked the user a series of questions but at the end of the questionnaire they asked him for his phone. Number to a premium Jook SMS service that what it does then is to consume the credit, “Gutiérrez said.

In this regard, last Saturday the official account of Argentinian airlines on Facebook alerted on this issue, warning its followers that “has not launched any contest of tickets for an alleged anniversary.”

“We ask all passengers and fans not to respond to surveys, nor enter any personal data, if it is not an action of the Airlines Group,” warned the Argentine company.

The specialist commented that “scam type one” are usually “the most common” and users can identify if they notice that their credit begins to consume quickly, without being used.

“You have to be alert if we start receiving SMS with horoscope or news information, because that may imply that we were subscribed – without our approval – to a premium service,” he said.

In this case, the user must contact his telephone provider and inform him of this issue, so that they can be discharged from that SMS service.

Third, there are the two type scams, which are the most dangerous because they ask the user in a deceptive way (and in general, with something attractive to discounts) to download an application to the device, which can Contain malware.

The consequences that can bring the presence of malware in the devices range from information theft to affecting the operation of the device.

Here, the specialist exemplified with messages promising discount coupons in Zara or Burger King, which were circulating last year.

There is a fourth type of messages that are not often seen much, “continued the specialist, and that is why it is necessary for users to be warned. They are linked to phishing, a technique of virtual identity theft.

“In connection with this, there has been a campaign – which has not circulated much – which tried to steal Facebook users name and password. For example, it is a message that tells you that you have a new notification and you must enter a site Of similar appearance to the social network, but in fact it is a false page to steal personal data “, warned by expert.

The specialist recommended that “as users we must be attentive” to these issues, and especially “not be so anxious if we receive from nothing at all incredible messages or with wonderful discounts, because they may be deceptions.”

There are certain signs that may indicate that our mobile device may have malicious software: a rapid consumption of the battery, and a decrease in the speed of the Internet and the same cell phone.

Among the tips, the specialist cited the installation of a security service in the devices (antivirus), the update of operating systems, and the care with the applications that one downloads (that are of a reliable source, and that do not request multiple Permissions to access functions that have nothing to do with the theme of that app).

“You have to handle yourself carefully and enter the verified accounts,” adding, “It’s not about becoming paranoid, but about enjoying technology safely.”

How to solve the great WhatsApp security problem?

After the controversies raised between Apple, Facebook and other applications, the FBI and other security measures, WhatsApp benefited from the encryption of user chats through a more secure encryption method. You will remember when you jumped for the first time alluding to greater security of your conversations. However, a few days ago came a failure in that barrier, the same that can now be solved.

Researcher said that “end-to-end” encryption, one of five WhatsApp novelties, depends on the creation of unique security keys through the Signal protocol. These are exchanged and verified among users to ensure security without anyone being able to intercept them. However, the application forces the creation of new encryption keys for ‘offline’ users that are unknown by the sender and receiver. It is the great failure of the application.

So, if WhatsApp still works and you need to fix the security bug, you will have to follow the next steps. On Android: Account> Security> Show security notifications. On iPhone follow the same steps once you go to Settings.

If from that moment you receive a security alert during a conversation and you want to make sure that no one accesses the same, the solution is to wait for the other contact to be online. For now, Facebook, owner of the WhatsApp, has not spoken officially, something that is expected to happen in coming dates.

THIS IS THE NEW STATION THROUGH WHATSAPP

Through Whatsapp circulates a new form of scam, in which offer free Internet are having to be connected to WiFi

According to the expert of Internet Security, the false promotion is spread in the form of a link through social networks.

The link sends a page requesting that the user share the message with 13 friends or 5 groups of WhatsApp, in order to unlock the “free” features.

By doing so, the site enables the ‘Continuous’ button, which will take the user to online survey pages at random and even ask them to install an application on the pretext that the computer may be infected.

The benefits for scammers can be advertising, generating profits through traffic to linked sites, although malicious content can also be downloaded to the phone.

Editor Futurescope
Editor Futurescope

Founding writer of Futurescope. Nascent futures, foresight, future emerging technology, high-tech and amazing visions of the future change our world. The Future is closer than you think!

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