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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

3 clusters · 12 sources · 11 days · First seen 12 days ago · Last updated 2 days ago

Categories: TECHNOLOGY

Zalo messaging app security issues

Entities: Zalo

Overview

In mid‑July 2026, Zalo users in Vietnam were warned of possible account monitoring and hijacking. The advisory listed symptoms such as unexpected login notifications, messages being marked as read without user action, and altered conversation histories, and advised reviewing linked devices, terminating unfamiliar sessions, and strengthening passwords.

A week later, a step‑by‑step guide was released to help users uncover hidden chats. It explained that the search‑bar magnifying‑glass icon turns red when a hidden conversation contains new messages, and stays white when there are none. The guide described three ways to retrieve hidden chats—searching by account name, entering the previously set PIN, or using the Zalo web interface—and showed how to unhide a conversation via the three‑dot menu.

On 29 July, Zalo introduced a “Báo xấu” (Report Abuse) feature. The tool lets users anonymously report suspicious accounts or content that violate community standards. To file a report, users collect relevant material, open the offending profile, select the report option from the three‑dot menu, attach evidence, provide a reason, and submit. Zalo encourages honest use of the feature to protect individual users and the broader community.

These developments illustrate a continuing focus on user‑level security measures, expanding from basic account protection to detailed hidden‑message management and community‑safety reporting tools.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Zalo announced a new feature called “Báo xấu”. (Zalo)
[● 3 SOURCES] The “Báo xấu” feature allows users to report suspicious accounts and content that violate Zalo’s community standards. (Zalo)
[● 3 SOURCES] Reports submitted through “Báo xấu” are anonymous to the reported account. (Zalo)
[● 3 SOURCES] Users can access the “Báo xấu” feature via the three‑dot menu on a profile page. (Zalo)
[● 3 SOURCES] The feature can also be accessed directly from a chat window with an unknown person. (Zalo)
[● 3 SOURCES] Zalo encourages users to use the “Báo xấu” feature honestly and civilly. (Zalo)

Timeline

2 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
Zalo launches ‘Report Abuse’ feature to boost user safety
Zalo introduced a new “Báo xấu” (Report Abuse) feature that lets users anonymously flag suspicious accounts or violating content, accessible via profile menus or chat windows.
6 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
Zalo hidden‑message detection guide released
A guide details how to detect and open hidden Zalo chats using a red search icon cue, account name, PIN, or web interface.
12 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
Zalo users urged to check for unauthorized access and secure accounts
Zalo warns of possible account monitoring, listing signs like unknown logins and auto‑read messages, and advises users to review linked devices, log out suspicious sessions and update passwords.

Sources

biz.cafef.vn · cafebiz.vn · cafef.vn · erzsebetter.hu · genk.vn · kenh14.vn · m.kenh14.vn · m.soha.vn · nowjakarta.co.id · soha.vn · video.soha.vn · vietnamplus.vn