A few weeks ago, a case from Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur was reported where a 28-year-old man lost nearly Rs 2 lakh after downloading a seemingly harmless image from WhatsApp.
New Delhi: In today’s era, when the entire globe is connected digitally, cybercrime continues to evolve, with WhatsApp emerging as a frequent target. WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging platforms. Due to its heavy usage, the platform is also becoming a hotspot for hackers. Among the growing list of threats, a particularly dangerous trend has surfaced this year—the “WhatsApp image scam.”
Unlike conventional scams that depend on phishing links or OTP fraud, this scheme employs a more deceptive tactic by embedding malicious software within seemingly harmless image files, making it harder to detect and more dangerous for users, reported TOI.
A few weeks ago, a case from Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur was reported where a 28-year-old man lost nearly Rs 2 lakh after downloading a seemingly harmless image from WhatsApp. But how is this happening? Well, scammers are using a technique called steganography.
What is steganography?
Steganography is a method used to conceal data within media files. The process can be used to hide any virtual content — including text, images, videos, or audio — and the data remains hidden until it’s extracted by the receiver. Scammers have now devised a new tactic to steal money by hiding malware in WhatsApp image forwards. These malicious files are disguised as harmless formats like .jpg, .png, .mp3, or .mp4, making them appear safe to unsuspecting users. However, the malware is cleverly embedded within the image’s metadata or in the least significant bits (LSB) of the image data — subtle areas that don’t alter how the image looks but can carry hidden, harmful code.
How to stay safe from the WhatsApp image scam
It is important to note that WhatsApp is taking all the necessary steps to make the platform safe and secure, users also need to take proactive steps to protect themselves. Here are some key precautions:
1. Disable auto-download:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings
- Storage and Data
- Turn off automatic media download.
2. Do not download media from unknown contacts: If you receive an image from an unknown WhatsApp contact, avoid opening or downloading it. If the sender appears suspicious, it’s best to block and report the number right away.
3. Limit group invites: Set your WhatsApp group privacy settings to ‘My Contacts’ to avoid being added to unknown groups.
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