As reported in the Financial Times and elsewhere, anyone using WhatsApp is vulnerable to being spied on via their phones. Political and advocacy campaigners are especially at risk as it appears they are the targets of the makers of this malicious software.
To avoid the spyware being installed on your phone in the future, you need to ensure the most up-to-date version of WhatsApp in installed. If you don't know how to do this, listen to 36 minutes and 15 seconds in on this programme: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00051j8
If there is a possibility that your phone is already infected, we have been advised that updating to the latest version of WhatsApp won't solve this problem and the only way to be sure you are safe is to reset your phone to factory settings, making sure to save any important data, that may be on your phone, elsewhere first..
