Tag: whatsapp

  • Meta Blocks Iran-Linked Hackers On WhatsApp Targeting US Officials |

    California: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has said that its security teams had blocked a small cluster of accounts on the WhatsApp messaging platform, who were posing as support agents for tech companies.

    The WhatsApp accounts were linked to a group of hackers affiliated with Iran and the same group has also attempted email phishing attacks targeting people connected with US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump along with political and diplomatic officials among others, Meta said in a statement on August 23.

    Meta said it has not seen evidence the targeted WhatsApp accounts were successfully compromised, but said it has shared information with law enforcement and other tech companies.

    Earlier, the US formally accused Iran of attempting to undermine the US presidential elections. In a joint statement on August 19, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the federal cybersecurity agency CISA said, “Iran perceives this year’s elections to be particularly consequential in terms of the impact they could have on its national security interests, increasing Tehran’s inclination to try to shape the outcome.”

    “We have observed increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle, specifically involving influence operations targeting the American public and cyber operations targeting Presidential campaigns,” the statement read.

    The US presidential polls are scheduled for this November with a face-off between US Vice President Kamala Harris who is the Democratic candidate with former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Meta in its statement on August 23 said that the recent “malicious activity” originated in Iran and attempted to target individuals in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States and the UK.

    It said that the hackers on WhatsApp pretended to be technical support for AOL, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. The tech company said that a small cluster of “likely social engineering activity” on WhatsApp was blocked by its security teams after investigating user reports.

    They attempted to trick targets into revealing sensitive information, such as account passwords, the company said, adding that it identified the campaign after some of the targets reported suspicious messages to WhatsApp.

    Meta said that its investigation linked the hacking attempts to APT42 (also known as UNC788 and Mint Sandstorm), an Iranian threat actor known for its persistent adversarial campaigns using basic phishing tactics across the internet to steal credentials to people’s online accounts.

    The US company said that they had previously shared threat research related to the group targeting people in West Asia, including Saudi military, dissidents and human rights activists from Israel and Iran, politicians in the US, and Iran-focused academics, activists and journalists around the world. 

  • WhatsApp Users In India To Receive Ads From These Companies; Alcohol-Related Ads Not Allowed – Check Eligibility |

    WhatsApp Users In India: Meta-owned platform has updated its WhatsApp Business messaging policy that will allow companies from regulated sectors such as real-money gaming and over-the-counter drugs to use the WhatsApp Business platform to send promotional messages to users in India.

    The change in WhatsApp’s Business messaging policy comes as Facebook parent Meta looks to accelerate monetisation from WhatsApp, its most expensive acquisition to date. Notably, the instant messaging app is currently the world’s most popular messaging app with over 2 billion daily active users across the world and India being its biggest market with over 500 million users.   

    This new policy marks a notable change by allowing the platform to include certain restricted sectors, such as alcohol, in select countries. However, in India, promotional content related to alcohol remains banned. 

    It is important to note that the WhatsApp Business app is aimed towards small businesses. Meanwhile, the WhatsApp Business platform is designed for medium to large businesses. Notably, the new policy also mandates that businesses ensure messages comply with legal age restrictions, geographic requirements, and regulatory standards through technical and organisational measures. They also cannot send messages to people under 18 years of age. 

    India along with other countries or regions where activities such as gambling, games of chance, or related activities are prohibited, businesses must also ensure that their messages only include those activities that are lawful, the new policy states.  

    Earlier, WhatsApp introduced new conversation categories- Utility, Authentication, Marketing, and Service — and revised its pricing model to charge businesses based on these categories reportedly. 

  • Meta AI Independence Day Stickers 2024: How To Send Festive Wishes On WhatsApp, Instagram, And Facebook |

    Independence Day 2024: As India marks its 78th Independence Day, social media is overflowing with patriotic posts and heartfelt messages. While it’s common to forward Independence Day greetings and share ready-made stickers, there’s something special about creating your own. AI-generated images and stickers offer a unique and personal way to express your patriotism which makes your messages even more meaningful on this important day.

    Steps to Generate Independence Day Images and Stickers Using Meta AI on WhatsApp:

    – Open WhatsApp: Launch the app.

    – Access Meta AI: Tap the top search bar labelled “Ask Meta AI or Search” or open your chat with Meta AI.

    – Create Image Prompts: Focus on visual descriptions in your prompts for better accuracy.

    -Avoid Errors: Use clear, detailed prompts to minimise spelling mistakes.

    Here are a few images produced with prompts from Meta AI on WhatsApp:

    Meta AI Prompt: Generate an image of the Indian flag flying on a clear day.


    Meta AI Prompt: Imagine the Indian flag waving in a storm


    Meta AI Prompt: Generate the Indian flag waving in the wind.


    Meta AI Prompt: Generate an image of a soldier with the Indian flag.


    Meta AI Prompt: Generate an image of children waving Indian flags.


    Now that you know how to create stunning posters with AI, make the most of this Independence Day with Meta AI. Use it to add a special touch to your celebrations and share your unique designs with friends and family.

  • MetaAI On WhatsApp: 8 Creative Prompts For Personalized Friendship Day Wishes With Images And Stickers |

    Friendship Day 2024: Are you planning to make Friendship Day extra special? WhatsApp Meta AI is here to help you celebrate with unique and personalized touches using innovative prompts. The new AI tool allows users to create customised images and stickers for their special friend, adding a creative flair to your Friendship Day wishes.  

    With easy prompts to guide you, MetaAI on WhatsApp makes it simple to generate eye-catching visuals and personalized stickers, making each message more memorable. This article will guide you on how users can use MetaAI to send thoughtful and unique greetings to your friends this Friendship Day.  

    Here Are 8 Useful Prompts To Generate Friendship-Day Related Stickers And Images On WhatsApp

    Friendship Day Vibes:

    Generate a cheerful sticker celebrating Friendship Day with bright colours and happy characters.

    Bestie Moments: 

    Create an image of two cartoon friends having fun together, perfect for Friendship Day.

    Heartfelt Wishes: 

    Design a sticker with a heartfelt Friendship Day message, incorporating hearts and friendship symbols.

    Friendship Goals: 

    Make a fun image of friends achieving goals together with a Friendship Day theme.

    Celebratory Friends: 

    Generate an image of friends celebrating with confetti and balloons for Friendship Day.

    Cute Friends: 

    Create a sticker featuring adorable animals or characters celebrating Friendship Day.

    Friendship Quotes: 

    Design a sticker with an inspiring friendship quote for Friendship Day.

    Thank You Friends: 

    Generate an image expressing gratitude towards friends, with a Friendship Day backdrop.

    How To Use Meta AI On WhatsApp

    Step 1: Open the WhatsApp and scroll through your chat list to find the ‘Meta AI’ icon.

    Step  2: Select the ‘Meta AI’ chat. Read through the terms of use and accept them to proceed.

    Step 3: You can either select from the suggested prompts provided or type your custom prompt in the chat box.

    Step 4: After entering your prompt, press the send button to submit your input.

    Step 5: Meta AI will process your request and respond shortly.  

  • Delhi Metro: How To Recharge Metro Card On WhatsApp? Follow THESE Simple Steps |

    New Delhi: Good news for Delhites! WhatsApp, an instant messaging app, has announced the metro card recharge feature for Delhi Metro commuters across the Delhi NCR region.

    Notably, android and iOS users can find quick access to the chatbot by tapping on the payments section on their WhatsApp. Using the same ticketing and chatbot services, commuters can also access the metro card recharge service in both English and Hindi language by sending ‘Hi’ to +91 96508 55800 or by scanning the QR code.

    The DMRC’s ticketing service via WhatsApp is accessible on all lines in the Delhi National Capital Region, including Gurugram Rapid Metro. 

    How To Recharge Metro Card On WhatsApp?  

    Step 1: Save the Delhi Metro WhatsApp number +91-8624888568 as a contact on your phone. 

    Step 2: Open WhatsApp and initiate a conversation with the saved number.

    Step 3: Send a “Hi” message to the chatbot to begin the process. 

    Step 4: The chatbot will guide you through each step of the recharge procedure. 

    Step 5: Write your metro card number and recharge amount, then select your preferred payment method, such as UPI, debit card, or credit card. 

    Step 6: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the payment. 

    To recall, WhatsApp had enabled the QR ticketing system across all DMRC routes including the Gurugram Rapid Metro. The chatbot service provides passengers with instant information and support, including details on train schedules, fares, and station information.

    Over the last few months, several other states including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Nagpur, and Pune have also integrated WhatsApp into their transport services, enabling a convenient transit experience for millions of commuters in these cities. (With Inputs From ANI)

  • Vistara Announces In-Flight WiFi: Know How Much You Will Have To Pay For Using WhatsApp, Facebook And Video Streaming? |

    New Delhi: Vistara has offered 20 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi internet connectivity on its international flights. The complimentary Wi-Fi access enables customers to stay connected and is ideal for those who wish to purchase extended Wi-Fi plans using Indian credit or debit cards. The service allows customers to receive one-time passwords via email, facilitating the purchase of extended in-flight Wi-Fi services during the active session.  

    Vistara’s internet connectivity plan for international flights includes a free chat facility for all Club Vistara members, regardless of tier or cabin, throughout the flight. For non-members, unlimited messaging on apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger costs Rs 372.74 plus GST. To surf the internet onboard, the airline charges Rs 1577.54 plus GST, which includes embedded audio and video streaming for social media and web content. For Rs 2707.04 plus GST, customers receive unlimited data, enabling all streaming protocols.

    It is important to note that these services are available on flights operated by its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A321neo aircraft, across all cabin classes, claims the company.

     Vistara, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is the first Indian airline to offer this feature.

    “At Vistara, we are committed to constantly enhancing the experience of our customers. We are, yet again, delighted to lead the way and become the first Indian airline to offer complimentary Wi-Fi on international flights across all cabins. We are confident that customers will appreciate this value addition that aims to make their Vistara journey more convenient, productive, and seamless,” said Deepak Rajawat, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara. (With Inputs From ANI)

  • WhatsApp Soon To Enhance Desktop Experience With Unique Username Feature-All You Need To Know |

    New Delhi: Meta-owned WhatsApp is likely to launch a new feature for desktop users which will enable the users to create unique usernames, as reported by WABetaInfo. These usernames can be used to chat with different people without actually exchanging contact numbers. 

    However, this feature is expected to come on WhatsApp web and not for the smartphone apps. The much-anticipated feature is currently in the developmental stage. The feature will allow users to personalise their profiles and connect with others using a unique identifier. 

    WhatsApp is working on a username feature for the web client!

    WhatsApp is still interested in offering a feature that allows users to create unique usernames in the future.https://t.co/G2zvwkgpZh pic.twitter.com/q9pSqWPYGa
    — WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) July 21, 2024

    Unlike platforms like Discord, where usernames can have discriminators or tags, WhatsApp usernames will be unique. This ensures that each username is one-of-a-kind, avoiding any confusion or duplication. Discord is an instant messaging and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) social platform. 

    Apart from this, the instant messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature to translate all chat messages, and it will be available in a future update. The platform also introduced a new feature for users to easily find the people and groups that matter to them.

    The new feature allows users to add contacts and groups as favourites, allowing them to filter through chats more quickly.  Moreover, the favourites filter has also been extended to the calls tab on WhatsApp so that users can speed-dial their family or friends.  

    On the other hand, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform has rolled out a revamped calling interface for iPhone users with a bottom calling bar to enhance user experience and streamline the app’s visual design, according to WABetaInfo reports.

    This update will gradually be rolled out to all iOS users in the coming weeks. Apart from this, WhatsApp is also reportedly rolling out an AI Studio feature with additional chatbots. It is available to some beta testers.  

  • WhatsApp Chats To Be Automatically Translated On Android, New Feature In The Works: Reports |

    New Delhi: Foreign language or a language not known to you might not bother you with WhatsApp’s upcoming new feature, that will automatically translate it on Android, said reports.

    As per an information shared by WABetaInfo, Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature to translate all chat messages, and it will be available in a future update!

    “In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.15.8 update, we announced that WhatsApp is working on a feature to translate messages using language packs. Through this improvement, it will enable users to easily communicate in multiple languages without needing external translation apps. The ability to translate messages instantly during conversations will help maintain the flow of communication, making it easier for users to understand and respond in real-time,” wrote WABetaInfo. 

    “Although this feature is still in development, it seems that WhatsApp is now committed to further enhancing this functionality through new automatic translation options. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.15.9 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to translate all chat messages!,”  WABetaInfo added.

    Sharing a screenshot, WABetaInfo said that though previously it had explained that the upcoming feature relies on Google’s live translation technology to operate directly on the user device, the latest update has made its previous assumption incorrect. WhatsApp is instead working on its in-house technology to support the chat translation, it said.

    “Although we shared a screenshot of Google’s live translation sheet, which appeared for other reasons, it looks like WhatsApp is actually developing its own in-house technology to support message translation. This approach still preserves end-to-end encryption as their solution will process messages on-device. Therefore, WhatsApp needs to download some language packs to translate messages,” WABetaInfo.

  • WhatsApp Allows Users Set Contacts And Groups As ‘Favourites’ For Quick Access; Here’s How To Use |

    New Delhi: Meta-owned WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature for users to easily find the people and groups that matter to them. The new feature allows users to add contacts and groups as favourites, allowing them to filter through chats more quickly. 

    Moreover, the favourites filter has also been extended to the calls tab on WhatsApp so that users can speed-dial their family or friends. However, the company said that the new feature will be rolled out to all users in the coming weeks. 

    The newly launched feature functions as an additional Chat Filter, which hides all conversations except those added as a favourite. Chat Filters were introduced in April this year, enabling users to view all messages, filter by unread messages, or display only group chats.

    it’s okay to play favorites 

    easily find the people you talk to most at the top of your calls tab and filter for them in chats by adding them to your Favorites pic.twitter.com/EAUh05IkQp
    — WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) July 16, 2024

    Currently, there is no official information on whether the ‘Favorites’ filter will be making its way to the desktop and browser versions of the popular instant messaging platform. 

    How To Set Contacts And Groups As ‘Favourites’ For Easier Access On WhatsApp

    Step 1: Open WhatsApp and navigate to your chat screen. Locate and select the ‘favourites’ filter to manage your preferred contacts or groups.

    Step 2: Go to the calls tab within WhatsApp. Tap on the ‘Add favourite’ option to start adding your desired contacts or groups. 

    Step 3: From the list, select the contacts or groups you wish to add to your favourites. 

    Step 4: Go to WhatsApp Settings by tapping on the three-dot menu (⋮) at the top right corner of the screen. 

    Step 5: Navigate to Settings > Favourites > Add to Favourites. Confirm your selection to finalize adding your contacts or groups to your favourites list. 

    Earlier, WhatsApp has introduced a new update for both Android and iOS users. This update allows users to forward photos with captions and enhances the poll functionality. The update is available for download from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

  • Got Traffic e-Challan Message On WhatsApp? Check How Vietnamese Threat Actors Are Targeting Indian Users |

    Bengaluru: A highly technical Android malware campaign by Vietnamese hackers is targeting Indian users through fake traffic e-challan messages on WhatsApp, according to a report on Wednesday. 

    Researchers from CloudSEK, a cybersecurity firm, identified the malware as part of the Wromba family.

    It has infected more than 4,400 devices and led to fraudulent transactions exceeding Rs. 16 lakh by just one scam operator, they said.

    “Vietnamese threat actors are targeting Indian users by sharing malicious mobile apps on the pretext of issuing vehicle challan on WhatsApp,” said Vikas Kundu, Threat Researcher, CloudSEK.

    Scammers are sending fake e-challan messages impersonating the Parivahan Sewa or Karnataka Police and tricking people into installing a malicious app.

    The app steals personal information and also facilitates financial fraud.

    Clicking the link within the WhatsApp message would lead to the download of a malicious APK disguised as a legitimate application.

    Once installed, the malware requested excessive permissions, including access to contacts, phone calls, SMS messages, and the ability to become the default messaging app.

    It then intercepts OTPs and other sensitive messages, which enables attackers to log in to victims’ e-commerce accounts, purchase gift cards, and redeem them without leaving a trace.

    Kundu explained that once the app gets installed, it extracts all the contacts to scam more users.

    Further, all the SMSes will be “forwarded to the threat actors thus allowing them to log in to various e-commerce and financial apps of the victim,” he added.

    Using proxy IPs, the attackers avoid detection and maintain a low transaction profile.

    Using the malware, attackers have accessed 271 unique gift cards, conducting transactions worth Rs 16,31,000, according to the report.

    Gujarat has been identified as the most affected region, followed by Karnataka.

    To protect against such malware threats CloudSEK urged users to stay vigilant and adopt security best practices installing apps only from trusted sources like Google Play Store; limiting app permissions and regularly reviewing them, maintaining updated systems, and enabling alerts for banking and sensitive services.