AdminThe cybersecurity company Bitdefender has launched a new tool that provides real-time chat protection for mobile instant messaging applications.
Named Bitdefender Chat Protection, the tool apparently alerts users if malicious links are received or sent during a live session on the world’s most popular chat software, including such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and Discord.
The tool works through Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android, its consumer-facing platform for monitoring, detecting and stopping attacks based on links delivered via messaging, notification and SMS text messaging applications.
How it’s working?
The solution constantly monitors chat sessions, alerting users to suspicious links that may try to steal financial data, credentials or other sensitive information.
When malicious links are detected during a chat session, the user receives a warning with information about the associated threats and the suggested course of action.
If the warnings are ignored, built-in web protection technologies prevent the user from navigating to a malicious website.
For example, if users receive a suspicious link via a messaging app, notification, or text messaging, they will be notified to prevent access or sharing of the link.
If a potentially unsafe link is inadvertently shared, users will also have the option to recall or delete the message.
Additionally, Bitdefender claims the new tool can detect phishing attempts that are based on human curiosity, urgency, and spoofing.
“Mobile threats continue to grow and cybercriminals have evolved beyond email-based phishing attacks to include SMS (smishing) and popular instant messaging applications,” said Ciprian Istrate, senior vice president of operations, Consumer Solutions Group at Bitdefender .
“With the new capabilities of Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android, users can rest easy and chat safely knowing they have strong real-time protection against malware, malicious links, and fraud on their Android devices.”
The tool is now available to existing and new customers and can be purchased at bitdefender.com or the Google Play Store.
The message appears when instant messaging remains a popular endpoint used by cybercriminals to gain access to systems.
A recent Armorblox report found that an unknown attacker impersonating WhatsApp targeted nearly 30,000 endpoints and was able to bypass Microsoft and Google email security filters.
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