Govt. Issues Major Security Warning for WhatsApp Users on Desktop

 

 

 

 

WhatsApp users who use the desktop app on Windows have been warned about a serious security issue that could let hackers steal personal data. According to Meta, the problem is caused by a flaw where a wrongly crafted file might run harmful code when the user opens it, instead of simply showing the file.
 

“A maliciously crafted mismatch could have caused the recipient to inadvertently execute arbitrary code rather than view the attachment when manually opening the attachment inside WhatsApp,” WhatsApp owner Meta said in a security advisory.

On April 9, India’s cyber security agency, CERT-IN (under the Ministry of Electronics and IT), issued a high-severity alert for WhatsApp Desktop users. The alert says the issue is due to a mismatch between the file’s type and its extension, causing WhatsApp to handle attachments improperly. If hackers send such a file, it could run malicious code on your PC once opened manually.

This vulnerability affects WhatsApp Desktop versions older than 2.2450.6. So, if you use WhatsApp on a Windows computer, you should update the app immediately to stay protected.

WhatsApp is a common target for scammers, especially in India where it has over 400 million users. The platform has also faced criticism recently for adding an AI assistant that users can’t remove, raising privacy concerns.

To stay safe:
Keep your WhatsApp Desktop app updated.
Avoid opening unknown files or images from unfamiliar sources.
Only trust attachments from known and verified contacts.
Always be cautious—your digital safety depends on it.