Google’s indexing of WhatsApp numbers raises privacy concerns

Google is indexing the phone numbers used on WhatsApp, and a researcher is concerned that it could cause privacy issues or be used for malicious purposes.

Earlier this year, Bleeping Computer reported how invite links to private groups of messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram were visible on Google, letting anyone join the groups.

This week, security researcher Athul Jayaram highlighted an issue with WhatsApp’s “wa.me” domain “leaking” contact phone numbers on Google.

The ‘wa.me’ domain is owned by WhatsApp and is used to host ‘click to chat‘ links that “allows you to begin a chat with someone without having their phone number saved in your phone’s address book.”

Continue reading on Bleeping Computer >

Ax Sharma

Ax Sharma is an Indian-origin British security researcher, journalist and TV subject matter expert with a focus on malware analysis and cybercrime investigations. His areas of interest include open source software security, threat intel analysis, and reverse engineering. Frequently featured by leading media outlets like the BBC, Channel 5, Fortune, WIRED, The Register, among others, Ax is an active community member of the OWASP Foundation and the British Association of Journalists (BAJ).

Recent Posts

Sea Turtle Cyber Espionage Campaign Targets Telecommunication and IT Companies in the Netherlands

Telecommunication, media, internet service providers (ISPs), information technology (IT)-service providers, and Kurdish websites in the…

10 months ago

Rogue WordPress plugin: Threat hunters uncover credit card skimming campaign targeting e-commerce sites

Rogue WordPress Plugin Found to Steal Credit Card Information in Magecart Campaign Threat hunters have…

11 months ago

Albanian Parliament and telco ‘One Albania’ suffer cyber attacks

The Assembly of the Republic of Albania and telecom company One Albania have recently fallen…

11 months ago

Carbanak Banking Malware Resurfaces with Updated Tactics in Ransomware Attacks

The banking malware Carbanak has resurfaced with updated tactics, incorporating attack vendors and techniques to…

11 months ago

Theme park giant Parques Reunidos hit by a ransomware cyber attack

One of the world's largest theme park operators, Parques Reunidos has disclosed a cybersecurity incident.…

2 years ago

Phishing kit screenshots your email domain on the fly to appear real

Phishing kit used by multiple hacked sites generates a log in page on the fly…

2 years ago

This website uses cookies.