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LAST UPDATE | 14 May 2019
THE DATA PROTECTION Commission has urged Irish users of the instant messaging app WhatsApp to ensure they have the latest update downloaded, after it was revealed that multiple phones had been infected with spyware.
The DPC said that it had been informed by WhatsApp – which has its European headquarters located in Ireland – about a “serious security vulnerability” on its platform.
The vulnerability may have allowed a malicious actor to install unauthorised spyware, which would allow it to access personal data on phones which have the app installed.
Earlier, WhatsApp confirmed that multiple phones had been infected with the spyware by an “advanced cyber actor” without any user intervention through in-app voice calls.
The Financial Times identified the actor as Israel’s NSO Group, and a WhatsApp spokesperson later said “we’re certainly not refuting any of the coverage you’ve seen”.
The malware was able to penetrate phones through missed calls alone via the app’s voice calling function, according to the spokesperson.
An unknown number of people – an amount in the dozens at least would not be inaccurate – were infected with the malware, which the company said it discovered this month.
The DPC said that that it is unknown at this stage whether EU users have been affected.
However, it said that while the possibility remains that they were affected, all users of the app are urged to ensure that the latest version is installed on their device, available via the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
“The DPC is actively engaging with WhatsApp Ireland to determine if and to what extent any WhatsApp EU user data has been affected,” the DPC said.
At this point, WhatsApp has not notified the DPC of the matter under Article 33 (notification of a personal data breach to a data protection supervisory authority) of the GDPR as the company is still investigating as to whether any WhatsApp EU user data was affected.
“Vulnerability”
John Scott-Railton, a researcher with the internet watchdog Citizen Lab, called the hack “a very scary vulnerability”.
”There’s nothing a user could have done here, short of not having the app,” he said.
The WhatsApp spokesperson said the attack had “all the hallmarks of a private company that has been known to work with governments to deliver spyware that has the ability to take over mobile phone operating systems”.
They said WhatsApp, which has more than 1.5 billion users, immediately contacted Citizen Lab and human rights groups, quickly fixed the issue and pushed out a patch.
They said WhatsApp also provided information to US law enforcement officials to assist in their investigation, and have now also informed Irish authorities.
The spokesperson said the flaw was discovered while “our team was putting some additional security enhancements to our voice calls” and that engineers found that people targeted for infection “might get one or two calls from a number that is not familiar to them. In the process of calling, this code gets shipped”.
“We are deeply concerned about the abuse of such capabilities,” WhatsApp said in a statement.
Spokespeople for NSO Group did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.
With reporting from Associated Press
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Could easily fund their campaigns with the money made off Ukrainian refugees.
@Ciaran O Donoghue: Well we now have the Tweets and video of NGO’s bussing Illegal immigrants to polling stations to vote following their registration in hotels. As I predicted they have imported their new voters.
@087 bed: Liar
@Ollie McGlinchey: The Video is there to prove you wrong, You should be ashamed of yourself.
@087 bed: could you tell us where to look? wouldnt always go on them as sometimes its just gargle but I checked gript. You need to mention where since a link will be deleted.
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Watch – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl8eONMIB4A
@087 bed: “as I predicted” – ha! Your smugness will never abate. And anyone who believes a word that racist gombeen says in your video should be ashamed of themselves. He’s a disgrace to this country.
They did not get my vote as they have been profiteering from the refugees. That is not right.
@Ulysses 31: well now I think I know who but could be wrong. Any idea when hidden camera show is back on? I miss it terribly
@Ulysses 31: I had to video record it.
@Sean Money: so that’s where you live?
@Ciaran O Donoghue: who are you?
@Sean Money: Didn’t have you as a lefty loon Sean?
There was an article pulled from the journal this morning. It had figures of earnings from Ukrainians on a guesthouse owned by the Healy Rae’s. Literally dissapeared while I was reading it. Puppet jouranalism.
@Vinny Clare: that’s only the half of it, have a Google of what there plant hire firm makes every year from Kerry CC. He had another house ready for rental aswell only he proceeded with the work before planning went through.
@Michael o connor: if that’s Nancy Myles then there are tenants in situ as we speak. He didn’t get permission to turn it into 30 apartments so it’s just a few rooms still.
nepotism
@Ulysses 31: Apologism
@john murray: Its all he/she/they knows. Petty and miserly person
You know….with all the noise surrounding the two brothers in the Dail, I honestly entirely forgot about their father……which just compounds how much of a cottage industry that family has made itself.
It’s either people couldn’t careless about their communities and don’t care what’s going on,but in a few years,u will have the people in Kerry giving out about their Communities and their County been so neglected with housing Health and everything else,the people of Kerry had too have seen Michael sitting with the Muslims,and praising them and how lucky Kerry is too have them,the more that come the better,and he will do everything he can to get the mosque built.all hotel owners who’s housing these migrants were runing mini busses to get them to vote,and were told who to vote for…I’ve not heard from any main media which not suprised,but Gript the only media to believe why haven’t they asked how is it legal to vote in this Country,when ur not a citizen.id like to know
@Kathleen Peters: Gonna need some people to stay, especially if we cant keep our own. That local garage job that no one wanted is about to become very popular. The franchise owner will be super pleased with the abundant cheap labour too.
And we sneer at the Americans who’d seemingly vote for a convicted criminal and yet this guy who assaulted a tourist (and who has also lost his appeal) can get elected? Probably being held aloft by the bully boy mates who helped him in the night.
We’ll never have change because the Irish love punishment, the Brits beat that into us. Let’s all complain about everything and then vote the same clowns in …. Well done
What is there to be proud of? Nothing and they know it. It’s a false sense of nepotism driven pride that should have shame in it’s place. Is the tweet from the very same elected chap who did the assault? Tells you everything there is to know then, they are money grabbing anti gay creatures and nothing will ever change that
‘This is my town!’ I’ll fight ya at the chip van! (with my 3 mates to help me too)
Speedy Nolan was another one elected that had the healy raes behind him.
@Michael o connor: pass the bucket, or the cheque book #corruption
Great news. More independents
Crooks and thugs!
Local elections deal with local issues. If I lived in kerry I’d vote for them! Very responsive to problems from people living there. A lot of the local politicians don’t seem to do much. At least they actually get results. Whatever about td’s and national issues. Cannot complain about the locals. Here in waterford we have terrible politicians who for decades have gotten us very little. One good labour councillor in waterford county. That’s it
@B Murphy: prove it, I am completely willing to bet they’d silence any Irish silly enough to be living there (although Kenmare is pretty) as quickly as the following people silenced me immediately and wrongly for a short email addressing their failures on disabilities, young people, justice, mental health: Mcentee, Varadkar, Harris, O Gorman
They’ve not done anything but put out hateful rural rhetoric in the past about minorities, show up on rte which they’d claim to despise also, switch it around to meet Muslims this year as the flat cap TD one did. They’re hookers, plain and simple and no offence remotely meant to sex workers
Very sad that they keep getting elected..
have your say