27-6-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has cautioned the public to exercise caution regarding invitations to join or download a potentially harmful application known as Pink WhatsApp. In a statement released on Tuesday (Jun 27), the communications regulator emphasized that this application poses a significant security risk.
Pink WhatsApp falsely claims to offer enhanced security and privacy features, a personalized interface, and the ability to send larger files compared to the popular messaging application WhatsApp. However, upon installation, the MCMC has highlighted that this “malicious application” gains access to various components of the user’s smartphone, including photos, SMS messages, and contact lists.
MCMC has advised users to be vigilant, especially when receiving messages and links that appear to be from WhatsApp, inviting them to try the new application. They strongly discourage downloading and installing Pink WhatsApp and urge users to promptly delete it if already present on their mobile devices.
To ensure mobile application safety, MCMC has recommended that the public exclusively download applications from official stores such as Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery, as reported by Bernama.
Meanwhile, in India, the Mumbai police have also issued a public warning about the Pink WhatsApp application. According to The Star, which cites India Times, members of the public have been urged to refer to an advisory titled “WhatsApp Pink: A red alert for Android users.” The advisory explains that Pink WhatsApp inundates the affected user’s device with numerous advertisements and allows fraudsters to gain access to personal data, including one-time passwords (OTP) and contacts, thereby compromising device control.
The advisory was released by the Information Security Education and Awareness agency under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India. It serves as a reminder for users to remain cautious and exercise prudence when downloading and using applications to protect their personal information and security.
