WhatsApp hack risks security of 200 million users

A security firm have warned that a vulnerability of the software in a WhatsApp browser add-on could allow hackers to take control of millions of computers across the world.

WhatsApp is owned by Facebook after the social media site agreed an £11.8bn buy-out last year.

WhatsApp Web allows Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and most recently iPhone users to continue their WhatsApp conversations within a browser window on a PC or Mac.

But security firm Check Point claims a vulnerability discovered in the software could allow hackers to take control of users' computers and install 'ransomware', or other malicious code.

Check Point has claimed that all hackers need is the phone number associated with your WhatsApp account to take control of a computer.

The news comes days after WhatsApp announced it had 900 million active monthly users.

All versions of WhatsApp Web after v0.1.4481 are immune from the attack.

Check Point told the Telegraph users should not use their browser cache to ensure they are safe from the hack.

Thankfully, WhatsApp responded quickly and responsibly to deploy an initial mitigation against exploitation of this issue in all web clients, pending an update of the WhatsApp client. We applaud WhatsApp for such proper responses, and wish more vendors would handle security issues in this professional manner. Software vendors and service providers should be secured and act in accordance with security best practices.