Owning an Android or iPhone device can never be out of trend. At the same time, you will find a secure messaging app pre-installed on them. Are they completely safe? No! The NSA (National Security Agency) has issued a critical warning about messaging apps.
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If you use a secure messaging app, the security of your device is already at risk. This is because a simple setting can make your data easily accessible to nefarious internet users. Want to know more about this? Keep reading!
Why NSA issue the warning?
In a world where secure messaging app like Signal and WhatsApp are used widely, encryption can’t ensure full privacy. Though companies guarantee your data is always secure, it’s not. The user’s behaviour plays a critical role in keeping your privacy protected. For instance, features like Linked Devices and Group Invite Links are exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access to your data.
According to the NSA, attackers can utilize social engineering techniques to trick target users and link extra devices to the Signal secure messaging app account without their knowledge. Can you imagine the amount of risk involved in this process?
Almost everything you share via texts will be accessible to hackers, including archived messages. A simple click on the shared link, and you are ready to share the data unknowingly with hackers.
Although group invite links ease the process of adding members, your security is also at stake because any sensitive conversations is no longer hidden from the attackers. Signals suggest disabling the group link under group settings. On the other hand, WhatsApp secure messaging app has more flexibility as it gives you control over who can add you to a group.
What Settings Should You Change Right Now?
Knowing the existing threats, you will have to change certain settings in the secure messaging apps as we are sharing below:
Unlink Devices
Keep a check on what’s happening with your Signal or WhatsApp secure messaging app account. In both apps, click on the “Linked Devices” section under Settings and unlink the suspicious device. Don’t worry about your data, as it will remain safe on your primary phone. In case you end up delinking the wrong device, you can connect to it later.
Turn off Group Invite Links
Group invite links are one of the biggest threats to secure messaging app users. To turn it off, you can disable it through the group settings. On WhatsApp, you can’t disable the link completely, but choose to allow who can add you. Prefer adding people manually and keep the permission of inviting others to admins only.
Beware of Unknown Links
Increasing spam rate on secure messaging apps is a big concern for users. That’s why you have to avoid clicking any unwanted links. This is how you can prevent giving others unauthorized access to your WhatsApp account.
Modify App Permission
Keep a regular check on your app. You can enable two-factor authentication, screen lock, or PIN for additional layers of protection. It’s also important to turn off syncing with third-party services.
Update Your Device
Your phone must be up-to-date to prevent unexpected data loss. For this, install the latest security updates for your operating system and messaging apps. These updates will patch vulnerabilities exploited by hackers.
Fast Flux: A Critical and Deeper Threat
Beyond the secure messaging app settings, NSA, along with various cybersecurity agencies, has warned about Fast Flux. It’s a deeper and critical threat to internet users. Mostly, nation-states and ransomware groups use this technique to scam.
In this, the attackers change domain names and IP addresses to hide the suspicious servers. Due to this, taking down the command and control infrastructure becomes difficult. Cybercriminals take advantage of this to keep their operations active even after detection.
Common Mistakes That Put Your Data at Risk in a Secure Messaging App
- Don’t assume encrypted = invincible
- Check your Linked Devices
- Disable group invite links for sensitive chats
- Update your devices
- Stay alert to phishing and social engineering
Final Thoughts
Is Signal a secure messaging app? Is it safe to click on WhatsApp group invites? The answers to all these questions are already mentioned above. You have to figure out whether you want to continue using them as it is or shift to another app.
What we recommend is to alter the settings only, and you are good to go. After all, prevention is always better than a cure. However, you have to stay careful and keep noticing unwanted activities on your app. If you notice something suspicious, report it to the cybercrime cell immediately.
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