Facebook Messenger Users Warned Over ‘Dangerous’ Bug

Facebook messenger users should be more careful as security researchers recently discovered a bug that can modify the content of messages sent, especially those using Android devices.

The said bug could bring the possibility of bringing fraud to about 900 million Facebook messenger users. Online security company Check Point Software Technologies claimed that an attacker could easily manipulate the content of chats within the platform.  

In a statement, Oded Vanunu, the company's Head of Products and Vulnerability Research, said: "By exploiting this vulnerability, cybercriminals could change a whole chat thread without the victim realizing...The hacker could implement automation techniques to continually outsmart security measures for long-term chat alterations."

The company shared that this loophole was discovered just this month, and Facebook authorities have been informed this potential harm. Meanwhile, Facebook was quick to issue a response. The social media giant explained that only account owners using the app on Android would be affected. Facebook clarified in its blog post that the said bug could not be used to put malware into the account owner's system. The company has anti-virus and anti-spam filters, the blog post added.

Another security expert Phil Kernick of CQR security firm also expressed alarm over the app's vulnerability. He said the issue indeed poses danger. He added that this could have legal implications, especially when online conversations would be used as evidence. The issue of the app's bug means that the evidence can be possibly falsified in certain cases. It is quite similar to having your Facebook account hacked, he explained.

It can be recalled that a news site called Gawker's conversations at the workplace chat platform were used as legal evidence in a defamation case, which means Kernick's worry is valid.

Facebook said it has plans to improve the security of the app such as an end-to-end encryption. Recently, Facebook CEO Mack Zuckerberg's Twitter and Pinterest accounts were hacked reminding all social media users that everyone is vulnerable in this digital age.