Reports suggesting that 3.5 billion WhatsApp numbers had been compromised and purportedly posted for sale on dark web marketplaces prompted alarm in users around the world. The claim proliferated quickly on social media, and many users thought that nearly half of the mobile-using population globally had been compromised. Amidst growing anxiety, Meta – the parent company of WhatsApp – has now issued a strong rebuttal.
Meta Denies Mega Data Leak and labels allegations “Baseless”
Meta firm denounced the viral reports by labelling them false, misleading and lacking “technical evidence.” According to the company, due to end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp does not store users’ messages or call logs on its servers, which makes such abuse “technically impossible.”
Meta clarified that the structure of WhatsApp does not allow for bulk extraction of phone numbers and that it has offered no evidence to support a breach of its systems. Many of the “leak databases” that are circulating online are often old, recycled, or created by scraping information that is publicly accessible, and avoid the use of WhatsApp servers to hack.
In short, Meta contends that 3.5 billion WhatsApp accounts were not compromised.”
Why These Claims Spread So Fast
As cybersecurity analysts point out, scammers often sell databases of phone numbers online to generate panic while driving buyers to purchase access to the information. Some phone number databases are made using the phone numbers of users who were involved in some prior hack of another app or website.
These hackers then package the phone number databases and declare them to be “WhatsApp leaks” to draw attention and attract buyers.
Experts caution users to stay vigilant because cybercriminals often use panic-filled misinformation campaigns rather than laptop-based malware, phishing links, or fake search tools to obtain data from users.
Even Without the Leak, Users Need to Be Cautious
While there’s some assurance that Meta denied the claims, cybersecurity experts continue to advise all users to take precautions because WhatsApp accounts are a common bait for hackers and typically don’t have any data with hacks.
Here’s how to secure your WhatsApp account today:
Top Ways to Keep Your WhatsApp Safe
1. Enable Two-Step Verification
2. Never Share OTPs With Anyone
3. Don’t Fall For Clickbait Links
4. Update Your App Frequently
5. Lock Your WhatsApp
