More than 3.2 million WhatsApp accounts in Belgium have been compromised and your data put on sale in the dark webin an incident that puts all of Europe on alert, including Spain.
The filtration, which It affected about 30% of the Belgian populationraises concerns about the security of this popular messaging applicationalso widely used among the Spanish.
Cybersecurity experts warn that, if additional measures are not taken, a similar breach could affect millions of users in our country.
This has been the leak of WhatsApp data in Belgium
The authorities still do not know how the data leak occurred nor has the organized group of cybercriminals responsible been officially identified.
For now, What is known is what type of information was leakedsince it has been put on sale in the dark web. Although the content of WhatsApp messages is protected by end-to-end encryption, metadata is not encrypted.
Such metadata includes phone numbers and, according to Panda Security, “possibly other personal details” which, in the hands of cybercriminals, can serve as a gateway for attacks smishing and vishing.
Are fraudulent tactics, based on deceptive messages and callsthey search manipulate users to obtain confidential informationsuch as banking details or passwords.
The Belgian Cybersecurity Center issued a statement alerting citizens about the importance of Take extreme precautions against this threatwhich, as Panda Security experts point out, has a high potential to be reproduced in other European countries, Spain included.
“The real lesson that this leak leaves is that anyone could be the next victim. And this is not an isolated problem,” warns Hervé Lambert, Global Consumer Operations Manager at Panda Security.
How to protect yourself against a possible leak in Spain?
Before him risk of a possible leak in Spainexperts recommend that WhatsApp users take proactive protective measures. Among them:
- Activate two-factor authentication– This feature adds an additional layer of security that can make unauthorized access to your account more difficult.
- Review privacy and security settings– Keeping settings up to date and being aware of security options can help mitigate risks.
- Avoid interacting with suspicious messages or calls: When faced with messages and calls from unknown numbers, the recommendation is to ignore them and report them, avoiding sharing any personal information.
Furthermore, the Belgian authorities suggest report any attempted fraud to contribute to the prevention of larger scale attacks.
A problem that could also affect Spain
This incident in Belgium is a reminder that no country is completely risk-free. From Panda Security they affirm that “the possibility that this type of cyberattacks will be repeated in other countries, including Spain, is high.”
Previous breaches have affected millions of users in other countriesshowing how personal data can be used in increasingly sophisticated fraud campaigns. In Spain, where WhatsApp is one of the most used applications, cybersecurity specialists ask to be prepared and encourage education on cyber hygiene practices.
