ISLAMABAD – *Pakistan takes action against the reports of cyber attack byIsraeli Spyware.*
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has approached the management ofWhatsapp, the Facebook-owned messaging platform, after reports of WhatsAppusers in Pakistan being targeted with a hacking software.
“PTA has taken up the matter with WhatsApp management,” PTA said in astatement. The telecommunication authority added that it intended to getthe details of users that were targeted in Pakistan but also to have anupdate on the remedial measures taken by WhatsApp to prevent the occurrenceof such hacking steps in the future.
“The public is advised to upgrade the WhatsApp application to latestversion and keep the device Operating System up to date in order to avoidsuch incidents,” the authority added.
“Affected individuals are requested to contact PTA atcontent-complaint@pta.gov.pk,” it added.
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Just days ago, it was learnt that the PTA has blocked a total of 933,775uniform resource locators (URLs) so far carrying objectionable/pornographicimages, texts and videos in the country.
According to data available with *Business Recorder*, the PTA hasblocked/processed URLs containing objectionable materials includinganti-judiciary, 6,182, anti-state, 13,175, blasphemy, 53,654,defamatory/impersonation, 2,915, miscellaneous, 4,633, pornography,831,674, proxy, 10,196 and sectarian/hate speech, 11,346.
Under section 37 of PECA, the PTA has the powers to remove or blockinformation through any information system if it considers it necessary,under following categories; (a) blasphemy (against glory of Islam), (b)anti-state (against integrity, security or defence of Pakistan), (c) publicorder, (d) contempt of court, (e) pornography (against decency andmorality), (f) and incitement of any offence under provisions of PECA 39.
