Cybercrooks cut loose with ‘pink ploy’ on WhatsApp

With a new malware spreading quite fast through WhatsApp messages, cybercrime officials have warned the public of a link that promises to change their WhatsApp theme from the trademark green into a soothing pink

Hyderabad: That anonymous link promising to make your WhatsApp blush a deep pink could actually be a malware that can make your phone bleed red.

With a new malware spreading quite fast through WhatsApp messages, cybercrime officials have warned the public of a link that promises to change their WhatsApp theme from the trademark green into a soothing pink. Do not click on the link is what the cops say, adding that these links compromise the security of the gadget and personal data as well.

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“It is nothing except a ploy by fraudsters to hack into the phone using malware. People should not click on any such links,” warns S Harinath, ACP (Cybercrime), Rachakonda.

Clicking on the link means losing complete access to the gadget and also compromising with e-wallet and banking passwords, he says. “Time and again, cybercrooks come up with new ideas to lure and trap victims. The WhatsApp pink theme is such a new gimmick to cheat people,” he adds.

Apart from financial loss, the victims could also bear the brunt of losing their personal data, including photos, conversation, contacts etc. “People should properly adjust their privacy settings to avoid getting trapped in such scams. More so youngsters should be more careful as the fraudsters particularly target them,” said KVM Prasad, ACP (Cybercrimes), Hyderabad.

Previously, there was a WhatsApp forward scam that offered free Amazon gifts after completing a survey. The link in the message led the user to a fraudulent website that asked users to enter their details and forward the same link to five groups or 20 friends.

Officials say one must also not forward any suspected links to friends. “If you receive it, report quickly and block the sender,” they advise.

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