New LandFall spyware exploited Samsung zero-day via WhatsApp messages
A threat actor exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Samsung’s Android image processing library to deploy a previously unknown spyware called ‘LandFall’ using malicious images sent over WhatsApp. The security issue was patched this year in April, but researchers found evidence that the LandFall operation was active since at least July 2024, and targeted select Samsung Galaxy […]
WhatsApp adds passwordless chat backups on iOS and Android
WhatsApp is rolling out passkey-encrypted backups for iOS and Android devices, enabling users to encrypt their chat history using their fingerprint, face, or a screen lock code. Passkeys are a passwordless authentication method that allows users to sign in using biometrics (such as face recognition or fingerprint), PINs, or security patterns instead of traditional passwords. […]
Meta launches new anti-scam tools for WhatsApp and Messenger
Meta has announced new tools to help WhatsApp and Messenger users protect themselves from potential scams and secure their accounts. On Messenger, the company has started testing more advanced scam-detection for suspicious chats that will warn users when a new contact sends a potentially scammy message, giving them the option to send recent messages for AI scam […]
WhatsApp adds message translation to iPhone and Android apps
WhatsApp has started rolling out a new translation feature that enables Android and iPhone users to translate messages in chats, groups, and channel updates. While iOS users can only use it to translate manually after tapping ‘Translate,’ Android users will also be able to enable automatic translation, allowing all messages in a chat thread to […]
Samsung patches actively exploited zero-day reported by WhatsApp
Samsung has patched a remote code execution vulnerability that was exploited in zero-day attacks targeting its Android devices. Tracked as CVE-2025-21043, this critical security flaw affects Samsung devices running Android 13 or later and was reported by the security teams of Meta and WhatsApp on August 13. As Samsung explains in a recently updated advisory, this […]
WhatsApp patches vulnerability exploited in zero-day attacks
WhatsApp has patched a security vulnerability in its iOS and macOS messaging clients that was exploited in targeted zero-day attacks. The company says this zero-click flaw (tracked as CVE-2025-55177) affects WhatsApp for iOS prior to version 2.25.21.73, WhatsApp Business for iOS v2.25.21.78, and WhatsApp for Mac v2.25.21.78. “Incomplete authorization of linked device synchronization messages in WhatsApp [..] […]
Fake WhatsApp developer libraries hide destructive data-wiping code
Two malicious NPM packages posing as WhatsApp development tools have been discovered deploying destructive data-wiping code that recursively deletes files on a developer’s computers. Two malicious NPM packages currently available in the registry target WhatsApp developers with destructive data-wiping code. The packages, discovered by researchers at Socket, masquerade as WhatsApp socket libraries and were downloaded over 1,100 […]
WhatsApp adds new security feature to protect against scams
WhatsApp is introducing a new security feature that will help users spot potential scams when they are being added to a group chat by someone not in their contact list. This feature displays a “safety overview” context card that includes information about the group’s creation date, the number of members, potential scam attempts, and instructions […]
US House bans WhatsApp on staff devices over security concerns
The U.S. House of Representatives has banned the installation and use of WhatsApp on government-issued devices belonging to congressional staff, citing concerns over how the app encrypts and secures data. The ban covers mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, and any web browsers used on those devices. Congressional staff are still free to use WhatsApp on […]
NSO Group fined $167M for spyware attacks on 1,400 WhatsApp users
A U.S. federal jury has ordered Israeli spyware vendor NSO Group to pay WhatsApp $167,254,000 in punitive damages and $444,719 in compensatory damages for a 2019 campaign that targeted 1,400 users of the communication app. The verdict is considered a landmark case for being the first time a spyware vendor is held accountable in court, […]