A flaw in the popular messaging service WhatsApp put about 200 million users at risk, warned the security company Check Point.
The flaw allows hackers to distribute malware, including ransomware, which requires victims to pay a fee to regain access to your files.
The vulnerability, however, affects only the web version of the service.
WhatsApp was alerted to the problem late last month and immediately issued a correction.
Check Point urged users to update the software immediately to seize it.
Ransomware
The web application WhatsApp is a mirror version of its mobile version, and can be accessed from a web browser the messages, images and other content on a smartphone received.
Currently there are over 200 million active users of the Web application compared to the 900 million users of the smartphone application, according to statistics released by the company this year.
WhatsApp was purchased by Facebook in February 2014.
According to Check Point, the vulnerability exists in the way the service handles contacts sent in the vCard format (virtual card).
All a hacker needs to send a virtual business card that looks legitimate is to know the mobile number of your target.
Once opened the vCard can distribute malicious code.
One expert said that it was relatively easy for hackers to take control of the phone numbers that have been released through other security breaches.
“Given that WhatsApp is a messaging application Mobile platform, the chances that you open a vCard is very high, “said Mark James, specialist security firm ESET.
” Once opened can try downloading and infect your system with ransomware “.
Check Point WhatsApp alerted about the problem on August 21 and a week later a correction was published.
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