Security thread Found In Whats App, Telegram: researchers

Security thread Found In Whats App, Telegram: researchers 

SAN FRANCISCO  - A computer security company on Wednesday revealed a ruling that could allow hackers to hack into Whats App or telegram accounts by using much more encryption designed to protect messages.

Check Point Software Technologies said it alerted Telegram and Facebook - WhatsApp owned last week, waiting until the vulnerability was patched before making it public.

Check Point did not specify how many messaging accounts were at risk, but said the flaw represents a danger for "hundreds of millions" of users accessing the messaging platform by web browsers over computers, unlike mobile applications .

"This new vulnerability put hundreds of millions of WhatsApp Web and Web users telegram with full exposure risk will take over," Check vulnerability point product boss said Oded Vanunu in a statement.

"Sending an innocent-looking image, an attacker could gain control of the account, story access message, all photos that were never shared, and send messages on their behalf," said Vanunu.

The vulnerability made it possible for a snooty attacker to trap a digital image with malicious code that could take action after the image is clicked to display, according to Check Point.

The malicious code could hijack an account, and also spread like a virus, sending infected messages to those who are flagged as contacts.

WhatsApp and the end use of the encrypted telegram to end designed to make certain senders and recipients can see only what is in the messages.

The protection of privacy has had the side effect of preventing the services that are able to discern if the content of the messages includes a malicious code, according to Check Point.

To remedy the situation, both services moved to find and block viruses before the messages are encrypted, security researchers said.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging services in the world, with more than one billion users. Telegram supports 100 million or more users, but is often cited as a preferred communication tool for jihadists because of encryption to keep messages from the eyes of the authorities.