Cybersecurity alerts warn of malicious VPN apps and WhatsApp impersonation scams

Cybersecurity experts are warning of several digital fraud methods targeting personal data and financial accounts. Kaspersky has identified six malicious VPN applications that pose a significant risk to users. These apps—MaskVPN, DewVPN, PaladinVPN, ProxyGate, ShieldVPN, and ShineVPN—can turn a mobile device into a proxy server, allowing criminals to intercept passwords, personal information, and banking details.

Separately, authorities in Spain have issued an alert regarding a sophisticated WhatsApp scam. In this modality, cybercriminals impersonate a victim to contact their acquaintances and request money via bank transfers. Unlike traditional account takeovers, the legitimate user often maintains full access to their WhatsApp account and may not see the fraudulent messages being sent in their name, making the deception difficult to detect.