CERT Releases WhatsApp Advisory to Address Increase in Cyber Attacks

ISLAMABAD: According to recent reports, there is a significant increase in cyberattacks in Pakistan, particularly targeting the social media app WhatsApp. In response, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has issued an advisory to help users combat these threats.

As per CERT, hackers—both domestic and international—have been exploiting vulnerabilities in the WhatsApp application to get access to private messages, including text and multimedia files.

How to Improve WhatsApp Security?

CERT has laid out some basic safety steps that WhatsApp users can take to make the app safer. The most important of these is choosing a strong password. Another is telling people not to click on unfamiliar links, which are called phishing attacks and are often used to start cyberattacks.

Users can also set up unique locks and regularly check their accounts to see what’s going on. Another major risk for possible cyber risks, connecting to public Wi-Fi networks has been brought up.

In order to prevent hackers from unintentionally gaining access to sensitive data, the advisory recommends that users disable cloud backup options. Users can also use WhatsApp’s built-in security features better if they keep the apps up to date.

Furthermore, CERT suggests that people protect their technological devices, like cell phones and computers, against cyberattacks by installing trustworthy anti-virus and anti-malware programs.

CERT encourages users to report any unusual behavior promptly in order to limit potential damage.