Data and phone numbers of nearly 500 million users are on sale on the dark web, according to the news platform CyberNews. The forum revealed that the database of 487 million WhatsApp users’ mobile numbers from 2022 was for sale.
On the Dark Web, mobile numbers of roughly 500 million WhatsApp users are on sale. According to Cybernews, a post on a well-known hacking forum said that the database of 487 million WhatsApp users’ mobile numbers from 2022 was for sale. Furthermore, according to the article, its analysts have verified that the hacked database contains only active WhatsApp users. According to reports, the stolen file contains data on WhatsApp users in 84 countries. There is no clarity on how hackers acquired access to the information.
Phone numbers of WhatsApp users from India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, France, and Turkey are included in the database. Over 2 billion people use WhatsApp internationally.
#WhatsApp #dataleak: 500 million user records for sale. The #threat actor told @CyberNews they were selling the #US #dataset for $7,000, the #UK – $2,500, and #Germany – $2,000. Check if your country has been affected. Read more: https://t.co/YT8CwV2cLo#cybersecurity #infosec pic.twitter.com/ZsfakpLC3A
— CyberNews (@CyberNews) November 26, 2022
According to sources, the dataset for the US (32.325 million users), the UK (11.522 million users), and Germany (6.054 million users) were each being sold for $7,000, $2,500, and $2,000, respectively. User information pertaining to approximately 6.12 million citizens was also for sale to the highest bidder.
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WhatsApp has derided the claim and refuted the report by CyberNewsreport by CyberNews has been categorically refuted by WhatsApp. The messaging app, owned by Meta, responded by saying that CyberNews lacked solid proof that the user information it had displayed came from WhatsApp.
There is no confirmed evidence of any nefarious actors using the exposed user data in this manner. Hackers utilise phone numbers and email IDs in phishing attacks on naive victims. We urge all our online readers to proceed cautiously whenever they receive messages or threats via email or SMS.
Here’s Why You Need To Be Careful
WhatsApp users should exercise caution as hackers frequently utilise this data for smishing and vishing attacks. Vishing and smishing are frauds in which perpetrators employ voicemail, email, or text messages to entice victims to click on a fake link. Therefore, cybersecurity experts advise consumers to be wary of calls from alarming numbers, unwanted calls, and text messages (both SMS and WhatsApp). Users risk losing money or vital personal information by clicking on or reacting to any such voice or text-based messages.
