New Spyware Attack to Steal Personal and Confidential WhatsApp Data; Brief Report

In a shocking test to confidentiality, a massive report started circulating over the breach of privacy of Indian Citizens on WhatsApp. Reportedly an Israeli spyware Pegasus was claimed to be snooping the personal data of Indian Journalists and human rights activists.

As per Outlookindia report, Whatsapp confirmed that unnamed entities were behind this cyber breach.

The spyware enables the tracking of WhatsApp voice call, text messages and even video call services. Reportedly if a person gives a missed WhatsApp video call, it automatically turns on the user's camera without the knowledge of the user. It is sad that Pegasus would be activated on the user's mobile phone via an "exploit link".

According to the latest TOI report, the Government of India (GOI) has denied such allegations. “It is clarified that Government of India operates strictly as per provisions of law and laid down protocols. There are adequate safeguards to ensure that no innocent citizen is harassed or his privacy breached," an officer was quoted as saying by TOI.

Earlier WhatsApp alleged the Isralei software company NSO Group and Q Cyber technologies for violating the US and California laws including WhatsApp's terms of service. However, NSO group refused the allegations but accepted that spyware Pegasus has been sold only to government agencies.  Meanwhile another report reveals that WhatsApp would be suing the NSO group for planting the spyware to exploit the users data.