WhatsApp has released an important update that all iPhone users must install.
Anyone using WhatsApp on their iPhone would be wise to follow the latest advice and make sure their chat app is fully up to date. This new warning comes after the discovery of an attack that could allow hackers to target devices and steal highly sensitive information. What makes this threat even scarier is that it’s a so-called “zero-click” vulnerability, which means it doesn’t require any direct interaction from the user, such as clicking a dodgy link or downloading a fake file.
Apple recently released a vital patch to help protect devices and now WhatsApp has confirmed that it has also pushed out an update to iPhone users.
“We assess that this vulnerability, in combination with an OS-level vulnerability on Apple platforms (CVE-2025-43300), may have been exploited in a sophisticated attack against specific targeted users”, WhatsApp said in a update on its secuirty pages.
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As long as these upgrades are installed, users should be safe and it’s not something any of us should ignore.
Although this current attack was highly targeted and only affected a small number of individuals, one security expert is urging all iPhone users with WhatsApp installed to update the app to the latest version to avoid the risk of being targeted by cyber criminals in the future.
“WhatsApp and Apple devices are some of the most widely used technologies on the planet, especially among senior executives,” said Adam Boynton, Senior Security Strategy Manager EMEIA at security firm Jamf.
“That popularity makes them prime targets. Attackers know that if they can find a way in, the payoff is huge. It is why we see significant investment from adversaries in uncovering zero-click vulnerabilities like this one.”
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Though instances of the bug being used to gain access to people’s iPhones appear to be very limited, Boynton says it’s vital to always keep your WhatsApp app up to date with the latest version from Meta.
“The objective is rarely just the initial compromise,” Boynton said.
“Exploits of this kind are often a launchpad for extracting sensitive data, harvesting credentials, eavesdropping on conversations, or even staging a ransomware attack further down the line.
“This is why patching apps and keeping operating systems up to date is so critical. Apple does an excellent job of making security updates widely available and easy to apply, but organisations must ensure those updates are adopted quickly and consistently.”
Although this most recent bug only affects Apple devices, if you use WhatsApp on Android, you should still ensure you have automatic updates enabled so that important fixes are downloaded to your phone regularly.
“The lesson here is clear: do not underestimate the risk because a platform is popular and trusted. For attackers, that popularity is exactly what makes it worth targeting,” Boynton warned.
You can check you have the most recent version of WhatsApp installed by heading to the App Store, then tapping on your account profile at the top right-hand corner. Here you’ll see the full list off apps that have recently been updated or need to have new versions installed.
