Beware of Fake Wedding Invitations on WhatsApp, Here's What to Do Immediately

A scam using wedding invitation APK files recently emerged, typically sent via WhatsApp from unknown numbers. The message contains only an unclear file, hoping the recipient will download and install it. If left unchecked, the impact can be severe. The downloaded APK can contain malware, spyware, or trojans capable of stealing personal data, including draining accounts on mobile banking apps on the phone. There are several steps you can take if you have already installed the file. First, if it has not been long since installation, activate Airplane Mode to prevent SMS messages from being received and stolen. You can also turn off the internet network, both cellular and Wi-Fi, to prevent data from being transferred to the perpetrator’s server. Find the accidentally installed application and immediately delete or uninstall it to avoid further criminal activity. Also, check what permissions the application had and immediately disable all granted permissions. You need to change all passwords or transaction PINs for mobile banking. Also, activate two-step verification to prevent account takeover or data theft on applications like WhatsApp. Furthermore, perform a thorough scan of the phone to check for threats and always ensure the protection available on the phone is activated. As a last resort, you can reset the phone if you are having difficulty removing the malicious actions from the scam. Note that a factory reset will erase all contents of the phone, including data and any malware.