FMWhatsApp is a modified version of the famous WhatsApp messenger where users can get more additional features and customization than they do on original whatsapp. However, it is important for questions of security and hackability. With the proliferation of cyber threats which are becoming more and more sophisticated, one must determine how vulnerable FMWhatsApp really is.
FMWhatsApp is not available on the Google Play Store, unlike official WhatsApp; hence it is risky. Because its not available, there is no mechanism to ensure the same security scrutiny and regular updates that go into the official app. A cybersecurity report released in 2021 showed that a variety of modded apps had nefarious code, including FMWhatsApp which could collect personal information and leave devices vulnerable. This is a risk of its own, as the apps are downloaded from third-party - and often insecure - sources.
While the advanced features of FMWhatsApp are definitely amazing, they can be used by hackers to hack into a users account. An attacker could potentially use the functionality of Transmitting large files and media without compression to spread malware through an app. Research by Check Point noted that Modded apps contain security vulnerabilities for unauthorized data access Thus, potential security issues can be introduced through functionalities that are supposed to improve the user experience.
Another important issue is privacy concerns. End-to-End encryption for users communication is implemented in official WhatsApp - only sender and recipient of message can see it. But, there is no assurances that FMWhatsApp has the same encryption level. These security flaw in FMWhatsApp increases its chances of being hacked. Because as security guru Bruce Schneier would say, "Security is a process not product". Once again, it highlights the necessity of those aforementioned security features that could easily be lacking in a third-party modded app such as FMWhatsApp.
This also exposes legal risks of course. The terms of service for WhatsApp say that using a modified version is not allowed and your account can be banned if you are found out to use one. Curtailing modded apps was another move taken by WhatsApp during 2019, which lead to a shutdown for many of its accounts. The enforcement is also a stark warning to persons who use FMWhatsApp.
Earning this name, some of the incidents in real life had a heavy hand on mods aps vulnerability. A news report from last year showed how hackers use an altered WhatsApp app and launch a phishing scam to impersonate the victims so that huge amounts of personal data would be lost, resulting in significant financial losses. This shows how it is so simple for hackers to violate the security of modded apps.
Moreover, updating FMWhatsApp also endangers this process. FMWhatsApp on the other hand needs manual updates since it does not update via our lovely Google Play Store like all official apps. However, the manual download tasks create a major problem of someone may exploit it to make an altered version of apps which then can be used by hackers for data exfiltration.
Considering this, it seems that hacking FMWhatsApp is a facile task. The fact that it suffers from both security issues, no longer is officially supported and regular maintenance came unofficial sources adds to the bullseye on its back for cyber threats. If you prioritize security, I would recommend sticking with the real WhatsApp. To get in-depth knowledge about FMWhatsApp, visit:FMWhatsApp