New FBI warning: Secure your messaging apps now
The FBI has issued an urgent warning for users of the most popular mobile messaging apps. The American agency recommends an immediate change in settings for WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Signal applications, reports Forbes citing the latest federal bureau report.
The warning relates to the discovery of new security vulnerabilities in popular communication apps. Cybersecurity experts suggest that the current default settings may not provide sufficient protection against increasingly sophisticated attack methods.
Issues with security mechanisms
During security tests, it was found that the built-in data protection mechanisms in messaging apps do not always operate as expected. Particularly concerning is that even when end-to-end encryption is enabled, it may not protect against all types of attacks. FBI experts emphasize that data stored locally on users' devices is especially vulnerable.
In response to the latest reports, Microsoft has already made changes to its Recall system, which is now better equipped to detect sensitive data such as credit card numbers, passwords, or identification numbers. The company assures that upon detection of such information, it will neither be recorded nor stored.
Recommendations for users
Federal experts recommend a number of steps that users should take immediately. Particular attention should be paid to two-step verification and regular password changes.
Experts cited by Forbes highlight the particularly troubling fact that many people are still using outdated versions of communication apps. This poses a serious threat not only to individual users but also to businesses whose employees use these apps for official purposes.
Attention is also drawn to the issue of backups and storing conversation history. According to the report, many users are unaware that even encrypted messages may be vulnerable to attacks during backups to the cloud or local devices.
The FBI report also includes recommendations for hardware and operating system manufacturers. Microsoft, Apple, and Google are urged to work more closely on security standards and respond more swiftly to detected security vulnerabilities.
According to the latest data, the scale of the problem is significant—in the last quarter, there was an increase of more than 150 percent in attempts to attack messaging app users. Particularly concerning is that not only private individuals but also business and institutional accounts are increasingly becoming targets of attacks.
