The WhatsApp messaging app is once again the scene of a major scam.

If this time around the identity theft of a loved one in order to hack your account, the objective remains the same.

And for this, hackers broadcast a message inviting their targets to take advantage of the pink version of WhatsApp.

The scam is mostly spread on WhatsApp group conversations.

A message supposedly coming from the messaging app invites chat members to take advantage of the app's new pink theme by simply clicking on the provided link.

This so-called official version would also offer exclusive features.

What attract users into the trap since, obviously, it is a scam.

By clicking on the link, users will actually download a virus that will block their access to their WhatsApp account and more generally to their smartphone.

The authors of the fraudulent campaign will then be able to recover the personal data of their victims stored on their phones and will also be able to spread their virus through the various WhatsApp conversations of their victims.

Always use caution

The researcher behind the discovery, Rajshekhar Rajaharia, recalls how crucial it is to only download apps through the Google Play Store and not to rely on APK file download links shared on WhatsApp.

“Anyone can receive an unusual, uncharacteristic or suspicious message on any dialogue medium, including your email. Whenever this happens, we strongly encourage our users to exercise caution before responding or engaging. On WhatsApp in particular, we also recommend reporting any problem to us and blocking a contact from the functions set up for this purpose, ”a WhatsApp spokesperson told Gadgets 360. If you receive a suspicious message, think so. report it on the messaging app and block the sender.

This is not the first time that such a scam has been broadcast on WhatsApp.

A few years ago there was a message that stated that it was possible to get a golden version of the messaging app.

This was obviously a fraudulent campaign to try to infect users' phones.

In fact, it's hard to imagine that WhatsApp could one day offer an official variant of its messaging app in another color.

This could harm its visual identity.

When you see a white phone on a green background, you immediately think of WhatsApp.

By offering its app in several colors, WhatsApp's visual identity would lose its strength.

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  • Cybersecurity

  • Application

  • Hacker

  • Personal data

  • Scam

  • WhatsApp

  • Facebook

  • Messaging

  • High-Tech