WhatsApp targeted by phishing scams in Albania while testing encrypted iOS cloud backup

Albanian State Police have issued a public warning after identifying phishing attempts that use fraudulent links to lure users into entering the six‑digit WhatsApp verification code. The scammers claim the link is for voting in a contest or confirming an action, then use the code to register the victim’s account on another device and seize control. Authorities advise not to click suspicious links, never share the verification code, activate two‑step verification and report compromised accounts immediately.

At the same time, Meta’s WhatsApp is testing an end‑to‑end encrypted cloud‑backup feature for iOS users. The beta version allows iOS users to back up chats to iCloud, offering 2 GB of free storage and a paid 50 GB plan at $0.99 per month. Backups are protected with a password, encryption key or 64‑bit key, and remain encrypted from start to finish. The feature is still in beta and a public launch date has not been announced.