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Tech

23rd May 2016

Here’s why you shouldn’t try and download ‘WhatsApp Gold’

Don't go gold

Matt Tate

WhatsApp Gold is an elite club that you don’t want to be a part of, even if it does sound quite cool.

Some users of the messenger service have reported receiving invites to a mysterious upgraded version, which is allegedly used by celebrities.

It claims to unlock the ability to initiate video chats, send up to 100 pictures at once and, most temptingly of all, grant you the option of deleting a message once it has been sent.

When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is, and it turns out the upgrade is actually part of a scam that can essentially hand over the contents of your phone to hackers.

hacking

The invite that you might receive and DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT CLICK reads: “Hey Finally Secret Whatsapp golden version has been leaked, This version is used only by big celebrities. Now we can use it too”.

Unfortunately for those gullible enough to believe that this is their golden opportunity to finally get Leonardo DiCaprio into the group chat, following the link to the fake update takes them to a website thought to be crawling with dodgy malware that enables hackers to spy on their personal details.

It’s only Android users who are encountering the message at the moment, and they’re being advised to install antivirus software and stick to apps from the Google Play Store.

You’ve been warned people. If that particular message happens to land in your inbox, delete it and be smug in the knowledge that you’ve outsmarted evil once again.

jesse

 

Topics:

Hacking,WhatsApp