Another bug hits WhatsApp, may expose private messages to strangers

After creating a lot of buzz with hoaxes over 'WhatsApp Gold', another bug has hit WhatsApp which is exposing the users' personal messages to a stranger. Unlikely WhatsApp Gold, this is not a virus or a scam and came to light with one of the WhatsApp users sharing the bluff on Twitter. According to the WhatsApp user, she was able to see someone else's private conversations and pictures in her own app. The supposedly 'secure' messaging app has often been a victim of bugs, hoaxes and viruses but the latest one is surely a reason to worry.

Taking to Twitter, Abby Fuller, an Amazon employee first informed about the glitch and wrote, "Logged into WhatsApp with a new phone number today and the message history from the previous owner's number was right there? This doesn't seem right. No, Abby, it doesn't".

"And now I'm wondering how many other times it's happened? Like does whoever has my old number now have MY WhatsApp history? Fuller added in her Tweet.

Responding to some questions on Twitter, Fuller also confirmed that she was using a completely new device and even the SIM card she was using was not second hand.

Read | Be aware! WhatsApp Gold is nothing but a virus, this could damage your smartphone

In the wake of this new-born trouble, WhatsApp users have been advised to migrate their old number to a new one before they stop using a particular phone number.

In a statement on its website, the instant messaging app said, "Before you stop using a particular phone number, you should migrate your WhatsApp account to the new number. For a simple way to do this, use our Change Number feature. By using this feature, you will be able to migrate your account information (including your profile information) as well as your groups".

However, the latest bug seems to be an isolated complaint and no other WhatsApp users have complained about the same. However, WhatsApp is yet to find the reason behind the issue.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, another group of users has spotted a fresh bug that is deleting their old chats. Users believe that this is a result of the announcement that was made in last November - pertaining to deletion of all the Google Drive backups older than a year. The bug was first reported by WhatsApp beta watcher WABetaInfo last week.

Read | WhatsApp to introduce Fingerprint authentication soon on Android

"I am facing the issue from June 2018. I am losing very important old messages. I sent too many emails to WhatsApp, now they stop responding me. I tried everything including reset phone, different WA version, changing phone, but no use ," one of the affected users posted on Twitter.

However, the Facebook-owned messaging app had released a statement, saying Android users who hadn't backed up their data and chats on Google Drive for over a year would lose their history on WhatsApp.