22-year-old Manipur boy discovers WhatsApp privacy bug, wins Rs 3,47,000 cash prize and enters Facebook 'Hall of Fame'

A 22-year-old civil engineer from Imphal, Manipur has got into Facebook's 'Hall of Fame' for year 2019! Social media giant Facebook has houred Zonel Sougaijam for discovering a WhatsApp bug that violated privacy of a user and awarded $5000 (Rs 3 lakh 47 thousand approximately) to him. Facebook also ded Sougaijam to 'Facebook Hall of Fame 2019.'

"During a voice call through WhatsApp, bug used to allow caller to upgre it to a video call without authorisation and kwledge of receiver. caller was n able to see what or person was doing, violating privacy of receiver," said Sougaijam.

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After discovering WhatsApp privacy bug in March, Sougaijam reported matter to Bug Bounty Program of Facebook, which deals with violation of privacy matters. report was furr ackwledged by Facebook Security team very next day and its technical department fixed bug in less than a month.

"After reviewing this issue, we have decided to award you a bounty of $5000," Facebook said in an e-mail sent to Sougaijam. Sougaijam found his name in Facebook ' Hall of Fame' p this month.

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In 'Facebook Hall of Fame' for this year. Sougaijam's name is currently at 16th position in a list of 94 people.

Facebook's bug bounty program encours users to find and report security vulnerabilities on Facebook and or Facebook-owned platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger among ors and Facebook assures to act upon legitimate reports.

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Recently, Facebook houred 19-year-old engineering student from Kerala for spotting and reporting a bug in WhatsApp. Facebook offered a bug bounty of $500 (Rs 34,500 approximately) to KS Ananthakrishna. Apart from prize, Ananthakrishna was also awarded recognition in 'Facebook Hall of Fame' for year 2019.

Last month, WhatsApp discovered a vulnerability that allowed spyware to be installed on users' phone. WhatsApp urged its users worldwide to update ir app to protect against "potential targeted exploits."