Danger on the phone: Cyber experts warn against connecting WhatsApp to external services
Following the recently exposed Yonatan Urich affair, cyber experts in Israel are issuing an important warning to the public regarding the use of the WhatsApp application. Experts explain that connecting a WhatsApp account to external services or third-party applications can expose personal and sensitive information to strangers, even if the connection seems completely innocent.
The core problem lies in the way these services gain access to data. When a user authorizes an external application to connect to their account, they often grant it broad permissions. These permissions allow those entities to read messages, view contacts, and access private information, even when the messages themselves are protected by end-to-end encryption.
Information security experts emphasize that the average user does not always understand the significance of the access they are granting. Often, it involves a link intended to assist with message backups or calendar management, but in practice, it becomes a loophole through which one can extract the user's entire conversation history without their knowledge.
The case of Yonatan Urich, an advisor to the Prime Minister, highlighted how infiltrating a mobile phone using technological tools can lead to the exposure of sensitive information with public and political consequences. The affair sparked a widespread public debate on privacy and the boundaries between police investigations and the right of citizens to privacy.
To protect against these dangers, experts recommend regularly checking the list of connected devices in WhatsApp settings. It is important to disconnect any service or device that is unrecognized or not in active use. Maintaining basic online safety rules is the best way to prevent personal data leaks and protect everyone's privacy.