The billion dollar company has urged 1.5billion users to update the app as an added precaution after discovering ”spyware”, a cyber surveillance software.

This security breach was discovered by Facebook earlier in May wherein the attackers  were able to install surveillance software unto phones by just ringing the targets phone.

Financial times says the surveillance software in question was developed be an Israeli firm known as NSO Group,

The company claimed the security breach has been fixed but they still advise users to update the app just be be on the safer side.

Whatsapp said the spyware was spread by ”advanced cyber actor” who saw the vulnerability in their app.

The billion dollar company advised users in a statement saying “WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices,”

The  National Cyber Security Centre also backs this up saying “It’s important to apply these updates quickly, to make it as hard as possible for attackers to get in,” they also urged users that it is advisable they turn on their automatic update function and quickly update the app as soon as it becomes available because it contains vital security updates to help protect  laptop, smartphones or tablet.