Indian Government Issues High-Severity Security Alert for WhatsApp UsersÂ
Indian Government Issues High-Severity Security Alert for WhatsApp UsersÂ
The Indian government has issued a high-severity warning for WhatsApp Desktop users on Windows. CERT-In urges immediate update to avoid potential data breaches.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has issued a high-severity security alert for WhatsApp Desktop users on Windows.Â
The warning, released on April 9, targets users of WhatsApp Desktop versions prior to 2.2450.6, urging them to update immediately to avoid data breaches.
According to CERT-In, the vulnerability stems from a misconfiguration between MIME types and file extensions, resulting in improper handling of attachments.
This flaw could allow hackers to craft malicious attachments capable of executing arbitrary code when opened manually in WhatsApp. This type of attack, known as a spoofing exploit, could lead to serious privacy and data risks for users.
With over 400 million active WhatsApp users in India, this alert is particularly significant. While the threat is confined to desktop versions on Windows, the impact could be widespread if left unaddressed.
What Users Should Do:
CERT-In recommends that all WhatsApp Desktop users update their application to the latest version as soon as possible. To update:
- Open the Microsoft Store
- Search for WhatsApp Messenger
- Click on Update
WhatsApp has also released a security advisory confirming the issue and advising users to install the latest version to stay protected.
In addition to this alert, CERT-In has been actively monitoring multiple threats this month, including recent advisories for iPhone 16 and Android 15 users, emphasizing the need for all digital users to stay vigilant and keep their systems up to date.
