WhatsApp: The hidden cyber threat lurking in your office – Sunday Independent

Online Security Staff Reporter | Published 15 hours ago DESPITE their popularity among employees, informal messaging platforms pose significant risks to organisations’ cybersecurity. The 2025 KnowBe4 Africa Annual Cybersecurity survey found that 93% of African respondents use WhatsApp for work communications, surpassing email and Microsoft Teams. What can organisations do to protect themselves from data leakage and other threats? For many organisations, platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram have become integral to workplace communication. Ease of use is what makes them so popular, explains Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy and Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa. “Particularly on the continent, many people prefer WhatsApp because it’s fast, familiar and frictionless,” she asserted. “These apps are already on our phones and embedded in our daily routines.” In terms of collaboration, these platforms also help employees to work together, especially in remote or hybrid work environments. “It feels natural to ping a colleague on WhatsApp, especially if you’re trying to get a quick answer,” she said. “But convenience often comes at the cost of control and compliance. Recent cases have underscored the risks of using informal platforms for professional communication. Increasingly, WhatsApp messages are being used as evidence in employee tribunals and other legal cases.
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