The National Information Technology Development Agency
(NITDA) has advised WhatsApp users to be careful while using the application as
their data may have been exposed owing to an alleged breach on the platform.
Hadiza Umar, head, NITDA’s corporate affairs and external
relations, said this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
An online report claimed that the data of nearly 500 million
WhatsApp users had been leaked and put up for sale on a hacking community forum
by an anonymous seller.
The database is said to contain the private information of
WhatsApp users from 84 countries.
But WhatsApp denied the data breach, saying the claim was
based on unsubstantiated screenshots.
“Following the alleged leak of nearly 500 million WhatsApp
users’ mobile phone numbers globally, and this includes over nine million
contacts from Nigeria,” the NITDA advisory reads.
“There is an impending danger of threat actors using these
data to carry out malicious activities, thereby putting many at risk.
“Such information
could be used to perpetrate cyber attacks such as smishing and vishing.”
According to Umar, smishing involves sending unsuspecting
users text messages and asking them to click on links or provide personal
information, which can be used to scam victims and launch attacks.
To avoid falling victim to any cyberattack, NITDA advised
instant messaging platform users to be wary of unsolicited calls, voice notes
and messages from unknown numbers.
NTDA advised users to enable two-factor authentication on
their apps.
“Do not reveal
personal information on your profile and do not respond to requests from
untrusted or unknown contacts asking for personal data, passwords or other
verification codes through messages or calls,” NITDA added.
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