Two new viruses appear on WhatsApp

Visa hackers

Of course, WhatsApp is becoming one of the most common platforms to commit cybercrimes. The most popular instant messaging app on the internet has never boasted a bomb-proof security system , paling against the encryption systems of alternative apps like Telegram. Thus, we began 2017 with two new viruses on WhatsApp, more sophisticated than ever and that, if we are not alert, we can become infected because they appear to be reliable and legitimate files

Viruses now in Office format

Today two new viruses have been reported through WhatsApp, with the news that they appear to be legitimate documents archived from the office package  and sent by real agencies such as the NDA (National Defense Academy) or the NIA (National Investigation Agency). Nothing unusual seems to host these text documents that are shared through the instant messaging application until they are opened. At the moment of clicking, a virus is installed on the affected person's mobile phone that could endanger sensitive information such as bank accounts and card numbers.

WhatsApp

The two files that contain the viruses are named "NDA-ranked-8th-toughest-College-in-the-world-to-get-in.xls" and "NIA-selection-order-.xls" . These two "files" are under the guise of excel format, but be careful, because they are also sent in .PDF or Word format . The virus is capable of extracting any information you have on your phone: contacts, passwords and banking pins ... Looking at the "sender" of the documents, we must assume that the main target of this virus is official personnel, police, military and personnel of security.

India, the most affected country

whatsapp_collapse

One of the countries most affected by this new type of virus through WhatsApp that takes the appearance of an official document is  India, where the vast majority of its inhabitants have phones with an old and already obsolete Android system , which makes them more vulnerable to this type of attack. This is not to say that the attack does not extend to any part of the world: in each country there are official organizations that can be supplanted. The only thing you have to have, as always in these cases, is a bit of head and never open an attachment unless we know, for sure, that the user who sent it to us is, really, the one who has contacted us. A concise"What are you sending me?" it should be enough to alert you that your account is being used to submit malicious content.

WhatsApp security

On April 6, 2016, WhatsApp activated the encryption of messages in all its users "end-to-end" , that is, only the sender and receiver of the message, video, file, etc., could be able to access . In addition, this encryption also included the calls made through the application. A movement that took time to make it effective, since Telegram had already offered it in its application for some time. WhatsApp has to continue fighting against hackers: recently we had evidence of a virus that promised to tell you who your partner was talking to. As always, the user has the fight against WhatsApp viruses in his hand : do not open anything that seems the least bit suspicious.