They hack WhatsApp and sell 13 million accounts in Mexico

What had been speculated in recent days is confirmed, the sale of an alleged database with 487 million numbers of users of WhatsApp of 84 different countries, among which is Mexico with 13 million numbers exposed. According to company specialized in the detection of threats cyber, ESET, a known hacking forum announced this calamity and even detailed in a list of countries and their respective number of digits of Telephone with the active accounts of the application of instant messaging of Objective. To get the information, the publication includes an account of Telegram for those interested to contact the cybercriminals.

Here is the list of affected countries

The numbers of WhatsApp The messages allegedly belong to:

1. Egypt with 45 million.
2. Italy with 35 million.
3. United States with 32 million.
4. Saudi Arabia with 29 million.
5. France with 20 millions.
6. Turkey with 20 millions.
7. Spain with 10 millions.

On the other hand, in the region of Latin America, The database claims to have:

1. Argentina with 2.3 million.
2. Bolivian with 2.9 million.
3. Brazil with 8000000.
4. Colombia with 17 million.
5. Chili more … than 6 million.
6. Coast delicious with 1.4 million
7. Mexico with 13 million.
8. Uruguay with 1.5 million.

It should be noted that the niche media that published this publication of the malicious forum, was the niche media cybernews.

This is how cybercriminals work

Researchers from ESET analyzed a sample received and confirmed that they were indeed phone numbers associated with active accounts of WhatsApp. For his part, Camilo Gutiérrez Amaya, head of the Research Laboratory of ESET Latin America clarified that the numbers of application of Mail service instantaneous could be used by these actors to distribute pranks or launch hacking attacks. Phishing what they are looking for Steal other accounts of WhatsApp. In the case of Herald of Mexico, We bring you a message that was located just in the month of november, date this intriguing database is known to have been published.

“We have seen cases where scammers have attempted to steal the verification code to steal WhatsApp accounts using excuses such as a fake message from the platform’s tech support. There have also been situations where, in due to the covid-19 pandemic, an appointment was requested for vaccines or even sudden messages from unknown numbers asking for the unused six-digit code,” Camilo Gutiérrez pointed out.

The lab manager explained that when the victim delivers the six-digit code The cybercriminals take control of accounts WhatsApp and contact registered contacts for deceive them and ask for a to transfer by a urgent or unforeseen. Unfortunately, many people fall into the trap Yes They send silver scammers, because they do not know that their contacts have suffered the theft of your accounts.

What does Meta say?

For his part, a spokesperson for Objective, the company that owns WhatsApp, denied that it was a leak, since there is no proof enough to Objective have suffered a filtration has his systems. Moreover, since Objective They ensure that they are aware of the publication that has been made in the forum and that the numbers put up for sale do not contain additional information of people. According to the publication made in the hacking forum, the threat actor it is said that the data was collected through scraping. Remember this is the use of tools which enable Extract and/or collect data from websites stop like that Create a database.

In the past, there have been several cases of editions databases with information people who have been taken in by the scraping. For example, when the data from 1.5 billion users of Facebook or when the data of 500 million users of LinkedIn. The only way to prevent users, and what cybersecurity companies like ESET or Kaspersky recommend, is for people to remain alert to the possibility of receiving these types of messages from unknown or known numbers.

To beware of these types of scams

1. Do not transfer money before posts of this type until you confirm that it is your knowledge.
2. Do not open any type of connections it happens to you in a suspicious way WhatsApp as SMS.
3. Yes downloads Apps, do it in stores and official developers.
4. never give Data for that Going through.
5. Never enter your Passwords, especially banks, in places that do not mark the secure padlock.

Although cyber crooks continue to renew themselves day by day, our best weapon is to raise awareness anyone can be vulnerable of an attack of this magnitude. Preventing and informing us is essential to avoid this type of threat.

Keep reading:

• WhatsApp: fake tech support message that steals accounts circulates among chats
• Warning: these are the least secure passwords, if you find yours, change it immediately!
• Phishing, vishing and smishing: what are these online scams and how to protect yourself from them
• What should I do if I have been the victim of Internet fraud? Here are the tips to avoid falling into cybercrime