An application with an icon similar to WhatsApp but in pink instead of green has been running on the net in the last few weeks. This app was discovered by a cybersecurity researcher from India, Rajshekhar Rajaharia and was christened WhatsApp Pink. The application is being shared around the world among users on an unofficial Android app store, but hides a terrible secret. It is in fact a dangerous virus that can infect your smartphone to steal valuable information.
The pink version of the most used messaging program was shared between the various WhatsApp groups via a link. So be careful. If you see something related to a new version of the app, be wary and do not install it.
The Indian researcher has also published some advice to follow in case you install the app in question.
Beware of links on WhatsApp
As soon as you install the application in question, a virus is immediately installed that quickly takes possession of the smartphone and then does not allow you to uninstall it easily. This is because, immediately after installation, the app immediately disappears from the smartphone Home, so as to be more difficult to find and delete it.
The virus, however, at that point has already taken possession of the address book and begins to send messages through the "real" WhatsApp app to all the contacts and groups in which we are registered. In the messages sent, the link to download the application again appears WhatsApp Pink, making users believe that this is a link sent by a friend or acquaintance who recommends the installation, also considering that WhatsApp Pink is not on the Play Store.
The virus not only steals the address book, but also the information of all apps (including those for accessing the bank) and their associated credit cards.
To remove the app we should go to the device settings, in the "Apps and notifications" section, view "all apps" and at that point we will find WhatsApp Pink which must be deleted immediately.
After that, we recommend that you empty the "Cache" of the browser you use to navigate, to disconnect all devices connected to Web WhatsApp (if active) and finally, to check in the section privacy, To authorization management if the WhatsApp Pink app is present and possibly remove any authorization from it.
