{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1602401,
        "msgid": "how-russian-hackers-breach-whatsapp-accounts-exposed-by-intelligence-know-how-to-avoid-falling-victim-1773143614",
        "date": "2026-03-10 18:00:00",
        "title": "How Russian Hackers Breach WhatsApp Accounts Exposed by Intelligence, Know How to Avoid Falling Victim",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Technology",
        "summary": "Dutch intelligence agencies MIVD and AIVD have exposed a Russian government hacking operation targeting WhatsApp and Signal accounts of government officials, military leaders, and journalists worldwide, using phishing and social engineering rather than malware. The attack methods include impersonating application support teams to trick users into revealing authentication codes and exploiting the \"Linked Devices\" feature in WhatsApp to gain access to messages and contacts. Users are urged to remain vigilant against such tactics, including suspicious QR codes and links claiming to invite them to group chats.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2013 Russian government hackers have been\nreported targeting WhatsApp and Signal accounts belonging to government\nofficials, military leaders, and journalists worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>The Russian operation was exposed by Dutch intelligence agencies MIVD\nand AIVD. Dutch intelligence stated that there were attempts to breach\nWhatsApp and Signal accounts on a global scale.<\/p>\n<p>The technique relied upon by Russian hackers to hijack the chat\napplication accounts of their targets is phishing and social\nengineering, rather than malware.<\/p>\n<p>Hackers have breached Signal by impersonating the application\u2019s user\nsupport team. They send messages to target user accounts containing\nwarnings about suspicious activity, including potential data breaches or\nattempts to access personal information.<\/p>\n<p>Users who fall victim are asked to provide the Signal authentication\ncode sent via SMS. This code is then used by hackers to register a new\ndevice with a different phone number. Hackers use the new account to\naccess the user\u2019s contact list.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause Signal stores chat history on the phone, victims can regain\naccess to their chat history after re-registering. As a result, many\nvictims do not realise there is a problem,\u201d as stated in the Dutch\nintelligence agency\u2019s report.<\/p>\n<p>Signal does not offer user support services through the\napplication.<\/p>\n<p>The method used by Russian hackers to breach WhatsApp is by\nexploiting the \u201cLinked Devices\u201d feature. Through this feature, WhatsApp\nusers can access their accounts from secondary devices such as laptops\nor tablets.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike Signal, previous chats of users who fall victim can be viewed\nby hackers. In some cases, victims remain unaware that their accounts\nare being spied on by hackers.<\/p>\n<p>Another method used by Russia is to entice Signal and WhatsApp users\nto scan QR codes or click links that connect their accounts to devices\nbelonging to hackers. For example, hackers send links and QR codes\ncontaining invitations to chat groups.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/how-russian-hackers-breach-whatsapp-accounts-exposed-by-intelligence-know-how-to-avoid-falling-victim-1773143614",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}