NITDA Says Escalating Cyber Threats Endanger WhatsApp Users

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has sounded a red alert, cautioning millions of WhatsApp users about a sophisticated cyber threat targeting their accounts. 

NITDA’s recent announcement on X has revealed a pivotal strategic initiative aimed at empowering users with vital defence mechanisms to confront the looming menace of cyber warfare.

“This alarming trend poses a significant risk to users’ privacy and security, opening pathways for potential exploitation and fraudulent activities,” it said. 

The agency stated that malicious actors have adopted a cunning method, surreptitiously activating accounts on alternate devices and coercing users into unwittingly disclosing vital activation codes.

“The attackers use social engineering tactics, including deceptive calls and persuasive text messages, to pilfer activation codes sent via SMS during the account activation process,” the agency stated. 

The agency underscored that once these codes are acquired by cyber assailants, they gain unauthorized entry to users’ WhatsApp accounts, allowing for the exploitation of contacts and potential engagement in nefarious activities.

In response to this imminent threat, NITDA has released a comprehensive set of preventive measures to fortify users’ accounts. 

These encompass a spectrum of strategies, including robust password management, reinforcement of two-factor authentication, routine security audits, and heightened awareness regarding the insidious tactics employed by cyber adversaries.

“Implementing these stringent guidelines stands as a formidable defence against the escalating cyber threat, bolstering the resilience of users’ WhatsApp accounts and ensuring a fortified shield against potential breaches,” emphasized the agency’s cybersecurity expert.

NITDA strongly advised users to enable Two-Step Verification within WhatsApp settings, exercise caution with unsolicited messages or calls posing as WhatsApp support, refrain from sharing activation codes under any circumstance, verify the identity of contacts seeking sensitive information, and vigilantly review connected devices to their WhatsApp accounts.

Implementing these stringent guidelines, as prescribed by NITDA, stands as a formidable defence against the escalating cyber threat, bolstering the resilience of users’ WhatsApp accounts and ensuring a fortified shield against potential breaches.