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WhatsApp says it has notified about 200 people who were tricked into installing a fake version of the social media app that contained government spying software.
WhatsApp has accused Italian spyware developer SIO of creating a fake version of its messaging app for iPhones, according to an announcement the company shared with TechCrunch.
“Our security team has identified approximately 200 users mainly in Italy who we believe may have downloaded this malicious client,” WhatsApp said in a statement. “We have released them, warning them of the risks to their privacy and security that come with downloading fake clients, and encouraging them to uninstall and download the official WhatsApp app.”
WhatsApp spokesperson Margarita Franklin told TechCrunch that, at this time, the company cannot share information about users who have notified them, such as whether they were journalists or government agencies.
“Our top priority is protecting users who have been tricked into downloading fake iOS software,” Franklin said.
In its announcement, WhatsApp also said it plans to “send an official resolution to stop any wrongdoing against this spying company.”
Italian newspaper The Republic and a news organization ANSA first he told a story.
Last year, TechCrunch revealed this SIO was behind Android malware which contained its own spyware, including fake versions of WhatsApp, and fake customer support tools for mobile phone service providers. The SIO’s spyware was known as Spyrtacus, a word that appeared in the code of the spyware.
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Do you have information about the SIO, or government spy software developers? From a non-working device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase and Wire @lorenzofb, or on email.
The use of fake software against monitoring purposes is a standard procedure used by Italian authoritieswho often get cooperation from mobile phone providers, who send fraudulent links to their customers on behalf of the police.
NOT creates government spying programs through his own assistant SECTION
Apple and SIO did not respond to requests for comment.
The latest announcement by WhatsApp comes after a year the company warned about 90 users that they were being targeted by spy software developed by a US-Israeli surveillance tech maker Paragon Solutions. WhatsApp has sent the notification to journalists and pro-immigration freedom fightersamong other things, which caused much commotion in Italy.
In response, Paragon cut ties and the Italian spy agencies, who were his clients.
