Thursday, July 16, 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026

US court bars Israeli spyware firm from targeting WhatsApp users – Al Jazeera

The judge ruled NSO caused ‘irreparable harm’ to Meta, but said an earlier award of $168m in damages was ‘excessive’. A United States judge has granted an injunction barring Israeli spyware maker the NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp users, saying the firm’s software causes “direct harm” but slashed an earlier damages award of $168m to just $4m. In a ruling on Friday granting WhatsApp owner Meta an injunction to stop NSO’s spyware from being used in the messaging service, district judge Phyllis Hamilton said the Israeli firm’s “conduct causes irreparable harm”, adding that there was “no dispute that the conduct is ongoing”. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Italy cuts ties with Israeli spyware firm Paragon amid surveillance scandal list 2 of 3 AI is fuelling a new wave of border vigilantism in the US list 3 of 3 Why has Microsoft cut Israel off from some of its services? end of list Hamilton said NSO’s conduct “serves to defeat” one of the key purposes of the service offered by WhatsApp: privacy. “Part of what companies such as WhatsApp are ‘selling’ is informational privacy, and any unauthorised access is an interference with that sale,” she said.

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If your WhatsApp messages go unanswered, this new rule might surprise you

Updated on: Oct 18, 2025 09:50 am IST WhatsApp is planning a major change that could affect how users and businesses communicate with non-responders.  WhatsApp is preparing a major policy shift that could change how users and businesses communicate on the platform. Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has announced plans to limit how many messages can be sent to people who do not respond, a move designed to reduce spam and bulk messaging that have become widespread in recent years. WhatsApp is planning a new rule that could quietly change how users and businesses exchange messages.(Pexels) The company will introduce this new measure in several countries within the coming weeks. According to Meta, each message sent to a contact who has not replied will count toward a sender’s monthly quota. The exact number of messages allowed under this quota has not yet been disclosed. Also read: OnePlus to bring Android 16 and new AI features to multiple devices soon: Check if yours is in this list… WhatsApp Plans Monthly Message Limits The new policy will primarily affect users and businesses that frequently send unsolicited or repeated messages. For example, if a user sends multiple follow-ups to someone who never

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WhatsApp Gold Scam Resurfaces Nearly 10 Years Later – Dataconomy

In October 2025, warnings resurfaced on social media regarding a long-running WhatsApp Gold scam, a scheme using fraudulent messages to deceive users into downloading malware by promising access to a non-existent, premium version of the messaging application. Multiple Facebook users shared alerts describing the supposed “WhatsApp Gold” update as a scam designed to install malicious software on phones and compromise personal data. The posts urged people not to engage with text messages promoting the alleged premium service. One user cited a radio warning, calling the update a “long-running scam and hoax, not an official update from WhatsApp.” According to that post, messages promoting the scam falsely promised “exclusive features” like video calls, new emojis, or customized chat colors. Some users also connected the scam to a separate hoax involving a video called “Martinelli,” rumored to hack phones if opened. The messages advising caution were confirmed as legitimate. WhatsApp does not offer a premium version of its app called “WhatsApp Gold,” and such promotional messages are likely attempts to steal personal information or infect devices with malware. This particular hoax has a long history, with versions tricking people for nearly a decade. Scammers first successfully duped WhatsApp users into downloading the

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WhatsApp Compliance in the Contact Center: Building Trust Without Slowing CX – UC Today

WhatsApp isn’t just another app on a phone. It’s where more than 3 billion people connect every day, often dozens of times before lunch. For customers, it’s the fastest way to get an answer. For businesses, it’s become the channel they can’t ignore. However, when conversations transition from friendly chats to enterprise use, things become complicated. Dropping WhatsApp into a contact center isn’t as simple as adding another support line. The moment personal details, financial data, or patient information enter the mix, companies must deal with strict rules, including GDPR, HIPAA, PCI, FINRA, and more. That’s where WhatsApp compliance comes in. Regulators have already shown their teeth. Wall Street banks were fined more than $2 billion for failing to capture WhatsApp messages. We now know that what feels like a quick side channel for agents can become a multimillion-dollar liability if it isn’t properly governed. The upside? Used right, the WhatsApp Business API can transform service delivery in regulated industries. Airlines, hospitals, and banks are already proving it works when built on the right CPaaS foundation. The task ahead is simple to state, harder to execute: capturing the benefits of the WhatsApp API for Business without breaking the rules. CPaaS

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How a Simple WhatsApp Chatbot Helped 1.5 Lakh Indians Fix Potholes, Tackle Floods & More

When floods swept across Punjab this year, Ranveer, a 24-year-old social activist from Mansa, watched his village disappear under muddy water. Homes stood drenched, walls cracked, roofs leaking. Families huddled together, unsure whether help would ever arrive. “I remember walking through the lanes, seeing despair on every face,” he recalls. “I wanted to do something, but I wasn’t an official. Who would listen to me?” What he did have was a small but powerful tool: the Reap Benefit WhatsApp chatbot.  Unsure where to begin, Ranveer opened it and followed the step-by-step prompts. He began documenting the damage, from clicking photos of broken walls to geotagging locations and noting names. At first, villagers were sceptical. Why was this young man taking pictures when people needed food and shelter? Soon, word spread that Ranveer was recording losses that could lead to compensation. Families began calling out, “Beta (son), please note down our house as well.” One report that changed a village’s fate House by house, he surveyed the destruction. Within days, Ranveer had logged more than 60 damaged homes. The chatbot automatically converted his inputs into a structured report with photos, GPS data, and descriptions. This moved beyond anecdotal evidence. It was

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‘UCO Bank Transfers Employees Over WhatsApp Forwards’ Union Cite Violation of Rights

In a letter dated October 14, 2025, the All India Federation of UCO Bank Officers (AIFUCBO), appealed to the Managing Director and CEO of UCO Bank to intervene in an issue concerning employee rights and social media communication. The federation emphasised that internal staff discussions are being misinterpreted, resulting in transfers that they deem unjustified. Transfers Over WhatsApp Forwards  The issue began when reports emerged that UCO Bank executives were planning a Diwali celebration despite an Official Circular restricting festival-related expenditure. After Public Sector Bank (PSB) employees criticised the move on social media, the event was cancelled. However, the situation escalated when the management allegedly transferred officers who had merely discussed or forwarded the news in internal WhatsApp groups. The management took the internal forwards personally and issued transfers to far-away or difficult postings. These were simple messages already viral publicly, yet officers—who had only forwarded them within internal chats—were penalised solely on the basis of those WhatsApp forwards. Image: Screenshots of criticism on X regarding the Diwali Party Diwali Party Plan Cancelled After Criticism Preparations for a Diwali party reportedly organised for senior executives at UCO Bank were underway, with gifts already purchased and the celebration initially planned for Sunday.However, the management

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WhatsApp is a growing customer relations enabler – BusinessLIVE

In today’s mobile-first world, WhatsApp has emerged as a cornerstone of customer service innovation across the retail industry. With over 2.7-billion monthly active users globally and more than 93% of South African internet users actively engaging with the platform, WhatsApp is no longer just a messaging app, it’s a service channel, a commerce tool and a strategic asset for customer experience. South Africa boasts an estimated 28- to 30-million WhatsApp users, making the platform the most widely used communication one in the country. Its low data usage, familiarity and mobile accessibility make it ideal for engaging with customers, particularly those in lower-income households who rely on mobile data and smartphones for connectivity. Retailers across the globe are leveraging WhatsApp to streamline customer interactions. Globally, brands such as H&M and KLM use WhatsApp for order tracking, customer service and conversational commerce. Locally, Checkers Sixty60 uses WhatsApp to notify customers about deliveries and order updates. MTN and Vodacom offer WhatsApp-based customer support for billing and account queries. The appeal lies in WhatsApp’s ability to offer real-time, low-friction engagement. According to the 2023 report by research platform Yazi, 52% of South African consumers prefer WhatsApp to phone calls, SMS, or e-mail for rescheduling

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Zingfront HK introduces WADesk for WhatsApp-based customer management

Zingfront HK has announced the launch of WADesk, a platform developed to support businesses in managing customer communication and acquisition through WhatsApp. The system is designed to address practical challenges such as multi-account operations, high interaction volumes, and risks related to account suspension. WADesk is currently used by more than 30,000 global users and reaches over 10 million customers. Its functions combine lead generation, bulk messaging, and customer relationship management. The platform also incorporates AI-driven automation and multilingual support to improve efficiency for businesses working across international markets. Recommended For You Key features include lifecycle management with secure backups of chats and customer data, which help reduce information loss in the event of account suspension. The system provides team management options such as batch allocation of leads, detailed customer profiling, and searchable communication records, enabling businesses to maintain continuity in customer relationships. The platform also includes automated tools to streamline workflows. These functions cover multi-task bulk messaging, keyword-based marketing, personalised replies, and scheduled campaigns. With real-time translations across 134 languages, businesses can manage communication in multiple regions simultaneously while reducing response delays. These features are designed to help businesses improve efficiency and avoid WhatsApp ban risks while managing customer engagement

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‘Use Arattai’: SC dismisses Doctor’s plea to unblock WhatsApp, says access to messaging …

Synopsis Supreme Court ruled that access to private messaging apps like WhatsApp is not a fundamental right. A doctor's petition to restore her blocked account was dismissed. The court emphasized users must follow platform terms. It suggested exploring alternatives like Zoho's Arattai app. Arattai has seen a surge in popularity, driven by demand for local digital solutions. Agencies SC Arattai Whatsapp The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition filed by a doctor seeking the restoration of her WhatsApp account, stating that access to a private messaging platform cannot be considered a fundamental right. The bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna observed that WhatsApp is a private entity and that its users are bound by its terms and conditions, a TOI report stated. Dr. Raman Kundra had approached the Apex Court after her WhatsApp account was blocked, arguing that the platform was essential for her professional and personal communication. However, the court ruled that private digital platforms do not fall within the ambit of constitutionally protected rights. “You can use Arattai,” the bench remarked, suggesting the petitioner explore other available messaging services such as Zoho’s Arattai app. Court’s stand: No fundamental right to private platforms The Supreme Court clarified

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WhatsApp Web in the crosshairs! How the worm that distributes the banking Trojan works

Redazione RHC : 14 October 2025 07:20 Sophos analysts have discovered a complex malware operation by security experts that uses the popular messaging service WhatsApp to spread banking Trojans, targeting Brazilian banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. A self-replicating malware emerged on September 29, 2025, featuring advanced evasion techniques and a complex, multi-stage infection chain designed to bypass current security protections. The attack campaign had a widespread impact, affecting more than 1,000 endpoints across over 400 customer environments, demonstrating the effectiveness and vast reach of the threat. The attack occurs when victims download a malicious ZIP archive via WhatsApp Web from a previously infected contact. The social engineering component is particularly clever as the message claims that the attached content can only be viewed on a computer , thus tricking recipients into downloading and running the malware on desktop systems rather than mobile devices. While investigating several incidents in Brazil, Sophos analysts discovered the complex infection mechanism used by the malware. This tactical approach allows the malware to operate in a stable environment and fully activate its payload capabilities. The malware begins execution with a malicious Windows LNK file hidden within the ZIP archive . Once executed, the LNK file contains an obfuscated Windows

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