Whatsapp

Meta-owned WhatsApp has submitted its reply to the government's notice on the "username" feature and the response is being examined, sources said on Thursday. The Centre issued a notice to Meta last Wednesday, questioning the proposed username feature on WhatsApp, flagging concerns that it could materially increase incidents of online fraud, phishing, digital-arrest scams and impersonation attacks. The username feature essentially allows people on the messaging platform to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The Centre had also directed the platform not to launch the feature until consultations on the issue were completed "to the satisfaction of the government". Subsequently, WhatsApp had sought some more time to submit its response on the "username" feature and assured the government that it would not roll it out in India until discussions were complete. The sources told PTI that WhatsApp's reply has indeed been received by the information technology ministry and the

Meta-owned WhatsApp's response to the government notice on the 'username' feature is due on Thursday, IT Secretary S Krishnan said. Last Wednesday, the Centre issued a notice to Meta questioning the proposed username feature on WhatsApp, flagging concerns that it could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. The username feature essentially allows people on the messaging platform to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The government had also directed the platform not to launch the feature until consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government". Subsequently, WhatsApp had sought some more time to submit its response on the 'username' feature and had assured the government that it would not roll it out in India until discussions are complete. "Today is the day when the reply is due," Krishnan said on the sidelines of the CII GCC Business Summit, when asked about WhatsApp's response to th

Meta said it removed 160,000 accounts linked to suspected child exploitation and over four million suspicious accounts across Facebook and Instagram

Last week, India asked Meta to delay the rollout of the new feature, citing fears that it may fuel online fraud

For 17 years, your Wha­t­s­App identity was your phone number. from this week, your identity can be a handle - issued and controlled by Meta

The Meta-owned messaging platform has received an additional three days to respond to a government notice seeking clarification on the feature

The Centre directed WhatsApp to keep the rollout on hold until consultations are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government"

Sebi's 394-page order exposes a 226-entity pump-and-dump network across five stocks, busted not just by bank records but also by airline bookings, hotel stays, WhatsApp chats,

The Centre has asked Meta to pause the rollout of WhatsApp's new username feature in India over concerns that it could be misused for impersonation and online scams.

After sending a notice to WhatsApp, the IT Ministry has now sent a notice to Telegram and Signal, raising questions on their existing username feature and asking how the platforms are addressing concerns related to fraud and impersonation, according to a source. Sources said that in the notice to Telegram, the government has asked the platform why it should be allowed to retain the username feature. On Wednesday, the Centre issued a notice to Meta over the username feature on WhatsApp, citing concerns that it could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. It had also directed WhatsApp to pause the feature until consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the Government". The government has now widened its scrutiny to other messaging platforms as well, sources said. Sources told PTI that the IT ministry has also written to Telegram and Signal - which already have the username feature - and asked how concerns .

Meity has asked WhatsApp to halt its new usernames feature over impersonation and fraud concerns, while the Internet Freedom Foundation questions whether the government has the power to do so

Meta-owned WhatsApp has come out with a detailed set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the controversial username feature, outlining details on how it plans to address concerns around impersonation, scams and unwanted contact as users begin reserving usernames. The FAQs come amid the Centre's notice to Meta flagging concerns over potential fraud and impersonation risks, and warning against a roll out of the feature till consultations on the issue are completed "to the satisfaction of the government". Put simply, the new feature will allow users to create unique usernames that can be used for connecting on WhatsApp without sharing phone numbers. The FAQs say usernames will be optional, cannot be searched by strangers, and that users can add an additional 'username key' requiring both the username and the key before someone can contact them. WhatsApp said well-known names, including those of public figures, celebrities, government entities and Meta-verified accounts, have been

The ministry is examining WhatsApp's new usernames feature over concerns related to impersonation, fraud and online scams, while Meta says it has built multiple safeguards against abuse

Businesses say phone numbers will remain central to customer interactions despite WhatsApp's username feature, while cybersecurity experts expect improved privacy and lower spam

WhatsApp has started rolling out reservations for usernames, a feature that will let users connect with others without sharing their phone numbers.

The government is reviewing WhatsApp's upcoming username feature over concerns it could enable impersonation, fraud and pose risks to public safety

WhatsApp has started username reservations, allowing users to claim a unique handle before the feature rolls out later this year for messaging without sharing phone numbers

The messaging platform will let users reserve unique usernames that can be shared instead of phone numbers, with the feature becoming available later this year

WhatsApp web and desktop users are being targeted by a large-scale malware distribution campaign that could give criminals unauthorised access and compromise their devices, national cybersecurity watchdog CertIn said in a note. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team has warned WhatsApp web and desktop users to be cautious of any attachments, even if they come from a friend, colleague or family member. "It has been observed that a large-scale malware distribution campaign is targeting WhatsApp Desktop and WhatsApp Web users. The campaign distributes malicious Visual Basic Script (VBScript) files through direct messages on the platform," CertIn said on June 25. The note prepared based on Kaspersky and Securelist findings said that the threat actors leverage compromised WhatsApp accounts to send malicious attachments directly to victims, making the messages appear legitimate and significantly increasing the likelihood of successful compromise. "WhatsApp is a cross-platform instan

A WhatsApp message from your CEO asking for an urgent transfer might seem routine. But India's cybercrime agency warns that it could be part of a growing "Boss Scam" targeting businesses across the co