Home
Apps
Apps News
Meta Reportedly Warns WhatsApp Users About Fake App Spying on Android, iPhone Users

Meta Reportedly Warns WhatsApp Users About Fake App Spying on Android, iPhone Users

Asigint, an Italian firm, reportedly created the fake WhatsApp app used for spying on users.

Written by Dhruv Raghav, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 2 April 2026 14:05 IST

Meta Reportedly Warns WhatsApp Users About Fake App Spying on Android, iPhone Users

Photo Credit: Unsplash

WhatsApp offers end-to-end encrypted chats as a security measure

Click Here to Add Gadgets360 As A Trusted Source

Highlights

Meta has reportedly disconnected the affected accounts
Asigint reportedly used social engineering to dupe users
The spyware primarily targeted users in Italy, the report said

Meta recently introduced new scam and fraud protection tools for the instant messaging platform WhatsApp, including a new device linkage warning system, designed to alert users if a suspected bad actor remotely attempts to take over a victim's account. However, hackers have also started using innovative ways to target users, especially with the rise in spyware adoption. On Wednesday, the Mark Zuckerberg-led tech giant issued a statement to alert users about a fake WhatsApp app, which is being used to spy on users, primarily in Italy, according to a report. The spyware reportedly targeted about 200 Android and iPhone users.

Android, iPhone Users Sideloading Fake WhatsApp Could Be at Risk

The US-based tech giant, in a statement given to Italy's Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), warned about a fake WhatsApp app, which was being used to spy on approximately 200 Android and iPhone users, especially in Italy. Meta reportedly said that the company has disconnected the affected accounts and warned the victims of the privacy and security risks.

As per the report, the fake WhatsApp app was created by Asigint, which is part of Italy's Cantu-based Sio Spa Group. The tech giant believes that hackers at Asigint employed social engineering techniques to dupe a “limited number of users” into downloading the spyware, posing as the official version of WhatsApp. The bad actors could have been looking to remotely gain access to the users' accounts and devices. The report added that it is planning to send a formal warning to the Sio Spa-controlled firm “to cease any malicious activity”.

WhatsApp to Now Warn Users About Suspicious Device Linking Attempts

La Repubblica reports that Meta claims that spyware does not exploit any inherent vulnerabilities within WhatsApp. Hence, the official WhatsApp app remains safe to use. The company is reportedly urging users in the EU to download the instant messaging app from vetted platforms. The company reportedly said that it is not “experiencing a breach of WhatsApp's official apps, infrastructure, or encryption”.

Apart from gaining access to the device, the spyware potentially gave unchecked access to a user's chats with others, as the fake version, unlike the official WhatsApp app, does not support end-to-end encryption, which allows only devices with the encryption keys to read the correspondence between two users. Similarly, it poses a major privacy risk, as it could allow hackers to access private data and credentials on a device.

In 2024, Apple allowed users in 27 EU countries to sideload apps and third-party marketplaces, complying with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The option to sideload apps on Android devices was already available to users globally. However, the EU, with its DMA, stated that Google and Apple command a monopoly by only offering the Play Store and App Store on Android and iOS devices, respectively.

Comments

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: WhatsApp, iPhone, Android, Spyware, Meta

Dhruv Raghav

Email Dhruv Raghav

Dhruv Raghav is currently working as a Senior Sub Editor at Gadgets360. He has previously covered the North American financial markets as a Headline News Correspondent for a major news agency. After taking a sabbatical to prepare for the Civil Services examination, he returned to journalism to cover tech policy, with a special focus on AI laws and online gaming regulation. Now, he is back in Gadgets360 to write features and edit stories. To unwind, he likes to spend time with his PS5, listening ...More