A new WhatsApp scam has emerged online where people claim that downloading a certain image on WhatsApp results in your phone getting hacked and money being stolen from your bank account. A few alleged cases have also been reported in India, which raises a big concern as WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in India, and almost everyone uses it. Our team at GadgetsToUse conducted a thorough investigation, and we have concluded that these reports are fake, and it is NOT possible to hack a smartphone from a WhatsApp image download. Let’s dive into the facts.

WhatsApp Image Scam: What is it?

The alleged WhatsApp Image Scam was first reported by a person from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, in the first week of April. The unidentified person claims that they received an image on WhatsApp from an anonymous number, asking for help to identify someone in that photo. After downloading the image, the victim’s phone was reportedly hacked, and they lost Rs 2 lakhs from their bank account.

Several news publications and media houses covered the incident, creating panic among Indians. Some reports mention that the hack was executed using “Stenography,” a technique where a hidden code is added to a photo and activated when someone downloads the image. Others claim that this was done using a “Zero-Day Vulnerability,” where a high-level hack is executed that cannot be detected even by using modern tools.

We were not able to verify the source of the news, and the name of the victim is also unknown at the moment. This raises several red flags, whether the said incident happened or not. Assuming that something like this happened, let’s explore its possibility and see whether it is really possible to hack a phone with a simple WhatsApp image.

Can you hack a phone with WhatsApp Image?

The short answer is NO. You cannot hack a smartphone with a WhatsApp image. There are two reasons behind this:

1. WhatsApp Removes EXIF Data From Images

When you send someone an image on WhatsApp, you will notice that the photo gets compressed, and the EXIF metadata (time and date, camera specifications) is removed. So, if someone adds hacking code to a photo using stenography, WhatsApp will filter it out in its compression. WhatsApp also uses advanced scanning algorithms to prevent users from sending potentially harmful files, which is why sometimes you won’t be able to send certain PDFs or files on the app.

2. Android and iOS Are Highly Secured Against Stenography

Android and iOS are both highly secure and encrypted operating systems. If you need to execute a certain code or a program, you need to install a separate app, as they do not have a general terminal like we see in Windows, macOS, or Linux. Hence, opening an image on a smartphone cannot execute a code as the OS is programmed to open the files in a specific gallery app. So even if someone sends you an infected photo as a document file, your phone cannot run the hack or the code in that image.

Hence, hacking a smartphone just by downloading a WhatsApp image is impossible.

How did the WhatsApp Image Scam Happen in the Jabalpur Incident?

As we mentioned earlier, assuming that the incident is true, it is possible that your smartphone may get hacked by downloading a file. But it can’t be an image; it has to be an APK file or a document file that redirects you to a certain website. Both methods involve deception, and you can easily prevent them with simple awareness. Let’s understand how this happens.

The hacker sends you an APK file, which is renamed and disguised to look like an image. This is done by adding a piece of text while sharing the file. The message is often framed in a way that creates panic, and the victim ends up tapping on it. Here’s an example of how a potential hacker can try to scam you on WhatsApp.

As obvious as it looks, staying on your senses is tough when you receive such a message. Most victims commit the mistake here and end up opening the file, which first asks you to install an app. Here you get another chance to decline the request and safeguard yourself. But if you install the app, you increase the risk of your phone getting hacked.

Apps can be designed to ask for a lot of permissions during the installation stage. It’s human nature to approve everything, just like how we ignore the EULA terms and conditions while signing up for a website. Hence, an untrained person could end up allowing too many permissions, which could allow the hacker to steal information from your device and steal your money.

It is possible that the alleged victim in the Jabalpur case installed an app on their phone, resulting in money being stolen from their bank account.

FAQs

Q. Can someone hack my phone by using a WhatsApp image?

No, it is not possible to hack an Android phone by sending or downloading a WhatsApp message.

Q. How can I check if my WhatsApp is hacked?

While the chances of WhatsApp getting hacked are rare, you can verify your safety by checking the list of Linked devices. You can also re-install the WhatsApp application from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, which will log out your account from all other devices.

Prevent WhatsApp Scams

The best way to prevent this is by creating awareness. If you receive an anonymous WhatsApp message, then you should immediately report it and delete that chat without opening anything. But if you accidentally open it, ensure that you do not install an app or click on any other link.

Additionally, you can also use AI-powered tools like Norton Genie or Scam AI that can detect fraud and scams on WhatsApp and other social media apps. These tools are trained on large datasets that can analyse potential fraud and warn you before you make a mistake.

You may also like to read:

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• 4 Ways to Check if a Call Is Spam or Fraud

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