Browsing: security

WhatsApp may be expiring for some users, but those folks without worries on that front still have something to worry about. Certain versions of the app are vulnerable to an exploit that installs spyware, developed by Israeli outfit NSO Group according to reports. And the nasty part is the penetration method — WhatsApp can be infected with nothing more than a missed call. 

Despite what every spy movie in the past 30 years would have you think, fingerprint and face scanners used to unlock your smartphone or other devices aren’t nearly as secure as they’re made out to be.

While it’s not great if your password is made public in a data breach, at least you can easily change it. If the scan of your fingerprint or face – known as “biometric template data” – is revealed in the same way, you could be in real trouble. After all, you can’t get a new fingerprint or face.

When you are asked to create a password – either for a new online account or resetting login information for an existing account – you’re likely to choose a password you know you can remember. Many people use extremely basic passwords, or a more obscure one they reuse across many sites. Our research has found that others – even ones who use different passwords for each site – have a method of devising them, for instance basing them all on a familiar phrase and making site-specific tweaks.