Ethical Hacking News
WhatsApp has introduced a new security feature aimed at protecting its users from scams, including a "safety overview" context card that provides key information about groups and tips on how to stay safe. The update is part of the company's ongoing efforts to combat scams and cybercrime on its platform.
WhatsApp introduces a new security feature aimed at protecting users from scams. The feature displays a "safety overview" context card with information about the group's creation date, number of members, and potential scam attempts. Users can exit groups without seeing chat content or choose to see more context if they recognize the group. WhatsApp also notifies users when contacted by someone outside their contacts, encouraging them to pause, question, and verify messages.
WhatsApp, a popular instant messaging platform, has recently introduced a new security feature aimed at protecting its users from scams. The latest update is part of the company's ongoing efforts to enhance the overall safety and security of its platform.
According to Sergiu Gatlan, a news reporter who has covered the latest cybersecurity and technology developments for over a decade, WhatsApp is introducing a new security feature that will help users spot potential scams when they are being added to a group chat by someone not in their contact list. This feature displays a "safety overview" context card that includes information about the group's creation date, the number of members, potential scam attempts, and instructions on how to control who can add you to WhatsApp groups.
"It will include key information about the group and tips to stay safe," said the company. "From there, you can exit the group without ever having to look at the chat." Additionally, if a user thinks they recognize the group after seeing the safety overview, they can choose to see the chat for more context. Regardless of their decision, notifications from the group will be silenced until the user marks that they want to stay.
To further defend its users against scammers trying to reach out directly, WhatsApp also notifies them when contacted by someone outside their contacts. The company encourages users to pause, question, and verify before responding to a suspicious or unusual message, especially if it's from a number you don't know promising fast money.
In recent months, the platform has seen significant improvements in its security measures. In June of this year alone, WhatsApp disabled over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centers targeting its users. This is part of the company's broader efforts to combat scams and cybercrime on its platform.
Earlier this year, WhatsApp collaborated with OpenAI to dismantle a criminal scam center in Cambodia that operated scams ranging from luring targets to invest in cryptocurrency to offering payments for fake likes. In one case, scammers generated an initial text message using ChatGPT, which contained a link to a WhatsApp chat that redirected the target to Telegram, where the task was to like videos on TikTok.
"These scam centers typically run many scam campaigns at once – from cryptocurrency investments to pyramid schemes," said the company. "Scams may start with a text message or on a dating app, then move to social media, private messaging apps, and ultimately payment or crypto platforms."
In April of this year, WhatsApp introduced an Advanced Chat Privacy feature designed to protect sensitive information exchanged in private chats and group conversations.
Furthermore, the latest update highlights the importance of cybersecurity awareness. Trend Micro warns that Apex One zero-day exploits are being used in attacks, emphasizing the need for users to stay vigilant and take proactive measures to protect themselves from cyber threats.
In addition to its security features, WhatsApp also offers a range of tools and resources to help users stay safe online. These include tips on how to identify and avoid scams, as well as instructions on how to report suspicious activity to the platform's support team.
Overall, WhatsApp's new security feature is part of a broader effort by the company to enhance the safety and security of its platform. By providing users with more information about potential scams and offering tools to help them spot and avoid them, WhatsApp is taking an important step towards protecting its users from cyber threats.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/WhatsApp-Unveils-Enhanced-Security-Measures-to-Combat-Scams-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/whatsapp-adds-new-security-feature-to-protect-against-scams/
Published: Wed Aug 6 07:28:02 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
