THE NSA is urging Apple and Android users to change specific settings on their phone to prevent any possible cyberattacks.
The security agency is raising awareness about a linked device setting that could fully ‘clone’ your text messages on someone else’s phone.
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Signal or Whatsapp users are vulnerable to the linked devices and group link features.
Linked devices allow users to access their synced text messages on any of their approved devices.
This means that if you have WhatsApp or Signal on your phone, you can also access those messages on your laptop or iPad.
The group link setting allows users to invite other people to a group chat using a link rather than having to manually add them.
Both features have their perks, but the linked devices setting may prove to be more harmful than beneficial.
If used incorrectly or hacked, the feature could allow all of the users’ text messages to be synced on an unknown device.
Luckily, its easy to stop this from happening.
Go to the settings menu and click “Linked Devices.”
Under that tab, users can view all of the devices their messages are synced to.
If the user doesn’t recognize any of the devices on the list, they can remove their messages from the device.
Users can always re-add devices they unlinked.
The warning comes in light of Google discovering that Russian GRU officials were conning Ukrainian leaders into opening their Signal apps so they can listen in to conversations, Forbes reported.
The search engine reported that this threat ” also extends to other popular messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which are also being actively targeted by Russian-aligned threat groups using similar techniques.”
To prevent a similar attack from occurring, users should continuously check what devices are linked to their apps.
Experts also recommend unlinking web apps periodically and relinking them.
Users should also never click on group link messages if they weren’t expecting them to avoid being a victim of a “phishing attack.”
How to shut off Linked Devices setting
- Go to settings
- Click on the ‘Linked Devices’ option
- View the devices connected to your app
- Remove devices you don’t recognize
Phishing attacks attempt to persuade users to open links, allowing the attacker to access personal information.
“Phishing isn’t new, and it’s not a flaw in our encryption or any of Signal’s underlying technology,” Signal wrote in a statement on X.
“Phishing attacks are a constant threat for popular apps and websites.”
Signal responded to the vulnerabilities memo issued by the Pentagon by installing new in-app warnings.
The app said it constantly looks out for new reports of cyber attacks or fraud.
Users are encouraged to change their passwords or app PINs regularly and not give out any personal information.
