World

WhatsApp Data Leak: Private Details Of 500 Million Global Users Up For Sale, Says Report

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: The phone numbers of nearly 500 million WhatsApp users have been leaked and are up for sale. The database, up for sale on a popular hacking forum, contains the private information of WhatsApp users from 84 countries, according to a report by Cybernews. The leaked datasheet allegedly has user information from several countries across the world, such as Egypt (945 million), Italy (35 million), Saudi Arabia (29 million), France (20 million), Turkey (20 million), and the US (32 million)

According to the report, the person(s) who leaked and uploaded the data for sale wanted to sell the US dataset for $7,000, the UK dataset for $2,500, and the German dataset for $2,000.

As seen historically, such information is usually leaked by hackers for the purpose of carrying out smishing (text-based phishing) and vishing (voice call-based phishing) attacks. Bad actors usually access data through a systematic method of calling people from unknown numbers. Such hacking is also carried out by sending unsolicited messages to users’ phone numbers.

WhatsApp has over two billion active users from across the globe.

Meta has not offered a comment on the breach so far. In the past too, Meta has been at the receiving end of a lot of criticism and flak for allegedly allowing third parties to collect data.

 

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

India Counted 640 Million Votes In A Day, California Still Counting: Elon Musk Takes Jibe At US Poll Process

New York: Slamming the prolonged delays in some parts of United States, Elon Musk on…

November 24, 2024

17-Yr-Old Bangladeshi Girl ‘Trafficked’ To Odisha Rescued From Cuttack City

Cuttack: Madhupatana Police recently rescued a 17-year-old Bangladeshi girl, a suspected victim of trafficking and…

November 24, 2024

After Mahayuti’s Mahavijay, Who Will Be Maharashtra’s New CM? Here’s What Devendra Fadnavis & Eknath Shinde Said

Mumbai: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and the NCP alliance emerging victorious in…

November 24, 2024

Driver Burnt Alive As Container Catches Fire Near Laxmannath Toll Plaza In Odisha

Balasore: The driver of a container truck was charred to death after the vehicle caught…

November 24, 2024

80 Arrested In Massive Crackdown On Illegal Gambling In Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: At least 80 people were arrested during a massive crackdown on illegal gambling activities…

November 24, 2024

IAS Reshuffle In Odisha: Sudhansu Samal Appointed OMC MD, Yamini Sarangi As Commercial Taxes & GST Commissioner

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has transferred Special Secretary, Planning and Convergence, Chitra Arumugam and posted…

November 24, 2024

Clash Erupts In Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal During Official Survey Of Mosque Following Court Order

Sambhal: A violent clash erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Sunday after a group opposed…

November 24, 2024

Hina Khan Shares Warm Post For ‘Humble And Kind’ Salman Khan

Mumbai: Television actress Hina Khan, who is battling breast cancer, recently met host Salman Khan…

November 23, 2024