Jabar Ekspres – Malaysians should be wary of receiving invitations to download the fraudulent “Pink Whatsapp” app, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said in an announcement issued in Cyberjaya on Tuesday.
The MCMC said the app purportedly offers better security and privacy, a customizable interface, and the ability to send larger files than the commonly used Whatsapp app.
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However, once installed, the app can access various data in users’ smartphones such as pictures, SMS, and contact lists, which jeopardizes cybersecurity.
Users will receive messages and links that appear to come from Whatsapp inviting them to try the new app.
The MCMC advised the public not to download and install the “Pink Whatsapp” app and to remove the app immediately if it is already installed on their smartphones.
The communications and multimedia commission also recommended users only download mobile apps from authorized app stores such as the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery.
The commission also asked people not to share any suspicious links and to be careful using mobile apps, and take precautionary measures to protect personal information.
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Local media quoting Indian media reports said, Whatsapp Pink circulating through the popular instant messaging platform shows that the application is ostensibly a new official version of Whatsapp with a pink theme and the latest features available for download.
Apparently, WhatsApp Pink is a malicious application that can steal user data such as banking data, OTP, photos and contacts.
A warning was also issued by the Mumbai Police’s cyber crime section earlier in June and shared guidelines on how to stay safe from such scams.
