All WhatsApp users told to change key setting after hacking bug
Hackers were able to exploit the vulnerability to access personal data
Experts have identified a major hacking vulnerability within WhatsApp, urging people to change one key setting to avoid issues down the line that could include your personal data being stolen.
While iMessage and other apps might be the preferred form of communication for some, a large number of people across the world opt to speak to their friends and family via WhatsApp, with approximately 3 billion active users every month on the platform.
There's a good chance that you've joined at least a few group chats over the years – with many comprising the exact same people just within a different context – but you might be surprised to know that these can cause some rather concerning issues.
As shared by the Metro, a team of experts over at Google's Project Zero have identified a major vulnerability within WhatsApp's framework that allows cybercriminals to implant malware into your device without you even knowing.
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Once these dangerous viruses take root, they're able to 'spoof' your device, allowing hackers to access pretty much everything on your phone from personal data to passwords and more.
The root of this problem centers on both group chats and automatic downloads, as hackers create massive fake groups that invite countless random individuals, and if they happen to accept, they'll be sent a virus disguised as a photo that automatically downloads onto the device.
There's a good chance that you wouldn't even know you've been hit by the attack when it happens, which is far more dangerous as it leaves your information entirely exposed, and this has prompted the experts to issue one key piece of advice.
If you've not yet done so, you'll want to make sure that automatic downloads are turned off in the WhatsApp settings, as this prevents any files from being implanted onto your phone without you knowing.
To do this, head into the WhatsApp app and press the three dots in the top-right to open the menu. Select 'Settings', and then head to 'Storage and data'.
From here select 'Media auto-download' and untick all of the media types, pressing the OK button to confirm the change before you exit.
This might be a little frustrating to deal with on a daily basis – as you'll have to manually download each file and photo that is sent by friends and family – but it's worth the hassle to prevent any issues from occurring, even if a fix has been seemingly rolled out by WhatsApp for the vulnerability.
It's unclear how many people were hit, and there's no indication that the platform is safe from further attacks in the future, so activating this setting is the best barricade you can put up against potential vulnerabilities.