WhatsApp: Amazon boss Jeff Bezos hacked - UN representatives should avoid the app

Security gaps became clear through the WhatsApp hack by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos: The UN is taking consequences and instructing high-ranking employees not to use the app.

• WhatsApp hack around Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has ramifications
• United Nations ( UN ) agree on a directive
• High-ranking representatives should avoid WhatsApp

Messenger is no longer considered safe for diplomats: WhatsApp is mentioned . After the WhatsApp scandal involving Amazon chief Jeff Bezos , the United Nations ( UN ) agreed on a directive. Accordingly, high-ranking representatives of the United Nations are instructed not to use WhatsApp in the future. A UN spokesman said on demand, according to the Reuters news agency.

WhatsApp: UN order for Saudi hack by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos

The background to the instruction is the recent case around Bezos. Bezos had been targeted by Riyadh as the owner of the Washington Post. Background: Journalist Jamal Kashoggi worked for the Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, as a journalist. In October 2018, Kashoggi was murdered at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Istanbul. According to the UN, Jeff Bezos was then hacked by WhatsApp by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman .

WhatsApp: Before UN statement: Amazon boss Bezos received video from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Bin Salman sent Bezos a video on WhatsApp that was suspected to be infected with malware. WhatsApp also spoke. More than 1.5 billion people would use the messenger. Every message would be encrypted end-to-end. The technology was therefore developed with the creators of Signal, which experts like Edward Snowden consider to be the safest messenger.

WhatsApp: Which messengers will UN representatives use in the future?

It is still open what alternatives the UN representatives have to WhatsApp. The spokesman made no statements. It is also worth mentioning that Bezos smartphone was infected with a special malware. This is not available on the open market and is traded for several $ 10,000. An average user does not have to be afraid of being hacked by such a virus. Of course, the situation is different for high-ranking people from politics and business. In general, however, security gaps in WhatsApp have increased significantly - that's what Facebook says about the problem.

By Moritz Serif

In the recent past, the messenger has repeatedly made the headlines. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos was hacked by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia via WhatsApp.

There is also another trend. On WhatsApp, fraudsters require a code to take over users' accounts.

This also excites users. WhatsApp users fear the "hacker Tobias Mathis".