A site called SocialSpy WhatsApp had become the subject of discussion, because it was narrated that it could be used to tap other people's WhatsApp conversations.
Is that true?
From our experiments, the narrative is almost certainly inconsequential. If you think about it using common sense, how could WhatsApp, with its end-to-end encryption, be intercepted in such an easy way?
On its website, SocialSpy says users need to enter the target phone number, complete with the country code. Then after that the user must complete the verification to prove he is not a bot. The third or final stage, the target conversation is said to have been seen.
The site itself is simple. There is a WhatsApp logo, steps to be followed, and a column to enter a phone number complete with a 'submit' button. Actually, even without the need to try out the service, what SocialSpy has to offer is clearly impossible.
But to prove that this is a scam site and you don't need to open it, we've tried it. We entered the original phone number, not even in the form of a phone number because it was mixed with letters, and pressed the submit button.
Then the site will display animations as if they are "loading", accessing the server, loading data, and so on. Then the site will ask for verification to prove that we are not bots.
The verification step referred to here is filling out odd surveys. Oh yes, this verification page is no longer at the SocialSpy address, but is directed to the cpabuild site, which is a click-collecting site, where members will be paid according to the number of clicks on the link.
So, the more people who are tricked into wanting to tap a certain WhatsApp number (partner number, maybe), the more income the owner of the cpabuild link will earn.
"This is a scam. So the victim is tricked by an animated screen as if the process of spying on the number he is targeting is running," said Alfons Tanujaya, cyber security observer from Vaccines when contacted us some time ago.
"In fact, later they will be directed to ad sites that will provide click profits from the creators of this scam application," he concluded. So don't wear it. Next is about the dangers of WhatsApp GB.
WhatsApp GB
WhatsApp GB, WA GB or GB WhatsApp are not official applications. For those who use mod applications like this, you have to be careful because your WhatsApp account can be permanently blocked.
This permanent blocking threat is not only for WA GB users, but also for other popular third-party modified WhatsApp applications such as WhatsApp Plus and YoWhatsApp.
These applications do provide more features that the original version of WhatsApp does not have such as various themes, accessing accounts on two devices, and others. But behind the diversity of features, WA GB and similar applications have a series of security threats.
Currently, applications such as WA GB can only be downloaded via third-party sites whose origins are not clear. Applications that can only be downloaded outside the Google Play Store or Apple App Store because official app stores like this have strict security standards.
Since it is not available on the Play Store, this app is also not supported by Google Play Protect. As a result, there is a risk that WA GB and similar applications are easily infiltrated by malware.
Conversations on WA GB also don't get the end-to-end encryption protection that WhatsApp has because they are stored on third-party servers, so there is a possibility that your conversations could be snooped on by hackers or irresponsible parties.
In addition, WA GB and other applications have also violated WhatsApp's Terms of Service. Because it was created by an unofficial third party, WhatsApp was also unable to validate its security practices.
Because they have violated the provisions and are not using the official application, WA GB users must be prepared to receive a 'love letter' from WhatsApp stating their account has been temporarily blocked.
"If you don't switch to the official app after being temporarily blocked, your account may be permanently blocked using WhatsApp," WhatsApp said in its official blog, as quoted by us.
If you don't want your account to be deleted, WhatsApp urges WA GB users to immediately download and move to the official application. But before that you are advised to back up and move your chat history to the official application.
If you don't back it up, all your conversations will be lost instantly. It should also be noted that WhatsApp does not guarantee that this chat history transfer process will be completely successful because WhatsApp does not support unofficial applications.