Researchers has revealed that a newly-released tool that exploits a vulnerability in Facebook’s WhatsApp allows you to “put words in people’s mouths.”

A team from cybersecurity firm Checkpoint has demonstrated how the tool can be used to alter the text within quoted messages, making it look as if a person had said something they did not.

The tool made it possible for “malicious actors” to manipulate conversations on the platform, researcher Oded Vanunu told the BBC.

As at press time, Techplace24.com can authoritatively say that Facebook would not provide a comment on the issue.

The tool was demonstrated at Black Hat, a cyber-security conference in Las Vegas, as a follow up to a research paper published by Checkpoint last year.

Mr Vanunu explained: “It’s a vulnerability that allows a malicious user to create fake news and create fraud.”

The tool makes it possible to manipulate WhatsApp’s quoting feature to make it look like someone had written something they had not.

“You can completely change what someone says,” Mr Vanunu said. “You can completely manipulate every character in the quote.”

The tool also allows an attacker to change how the sender of the message is identified, making it possible to attribute a comment to a different source.

But, according to another source from BBC, a third issue highlighted by researchers has been successfully fixed by Facebook. That flaw could trick users into believing they were sending a private message to one person, when in fact their reply went to a more public group.

But Mr Vanunu said Facebook had told them the other issues could not be resolved due to “infrastructure limitations” on WhatsApp.

In particular, the encryption technology used by WhatsApp made it extremely difficult – perhaps impossible – for the company to monitor and verify the authenticity of messages being sent by users. Other potential measures to stop the problems highlighted could result in trade-offs in the usability of the app, researchers were told.

When asked by the BBC why his team would release a tool that made it easier for others to exploit the vulnerability, Mr Vanunu defended the move, saying he hoped it would provoke discussion.

“WhatsApp serves 30% of the global population. It’s our responsibility. There is a big problem with fake news and manipulation. It’s infrastructure that serves more than 1.5 billion users.

“We cannot like put it aside and say: ‘Okay, this is not happening.’”

The spread of misinformation on WhatsApp has been a major cause of concern, particularly in countries such as India and Brazil, where misinformation has lead to instances of violence, and in some cases, death.

WhatsApp made changes to its platform in an effort to reduce the spread of misinformation, such as limiting the number of times a message could be forwarded.

See More At; https://www.techplace24.com/2019/08/08/whatsapp-new-tool-allows-you-to-put-words-in-peoples-mouth/

lalasticlala

shuuu shuperu

Trust Nigeria's scammers, they are already thinking of how to use it to dupe average Nigerians.

America breaking boundaries in the world of tech

Nigeria breaking boundaries in the world of Herdsmen and terrorism

Seriously?

B

Scammers will be very happy

Interesting

Dangote, I am putting these words in your mouth...

"Give this man 50 billion naira"

Like magic...

Well considering the exploit GB whatsapp were able to do to the original whatsapp app.. I will say whatsapp isn't safe.

good

Abi force you to put food in peoples' mouth?

Move to telegram, whatsapp isn’t just it anymore

Which kind fraudulent feature be this ?

should I say cool ?

People still use whatsapp? I have moved to Telegram long ago.

Really?

is this good or bad?

well check my signature for cheap data

Raydos:
America breaking boundaries in the world of tech

Nigeria breaking boundaries in the world of Herdsmen and terrorism

grow up already.

We are tired of hearing this shit again and again.

They would soon get Whatsapp destroyed..

My next whatsapp with my uncle might look like this...

Me: Good morning Sir, I called you earlier but it seems you're busy. I met your driver yesterday and he told me you asked me to send you your total bill. I am chatting with you with respect to that sir.

My Uncle: So how much is my bill?

Me: *Thinking how much to add to the initial bill of 350k* OK Sir, Actually I already sent the receipt through a courier service. Your bill is....

My Uncle: Don't worry you can hold the reciept, I will give you 1 milli...