WhatsApp rush to plug breach

WhatsApp, the popular social media app, scrambled to put out a patch to plug a scary flaw that enabled hackers to inject spyware on to smartphones that enabled them to read messages, see contacts and activate the camera.

The Facebook-owned company asked its 1.5 billion users worldwide to immediately upgrade to the latest version of the app to protect themselves from the malicious spyware that is believed to have been developed by a secretive Israeli spyware company called NSO Group.

“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices,” a spokesperson said.