Pegasus spyware controversy: WhatsApp downloads decline 80% in India

WhatsApp has reportedly experienced a massive decline in terms of downlos, following Pegasus controversy in India. WhatsApp downlos fell 8 per cent between October 26 and vember 3. number of downlos between said period stood at 7.8 million right after Pegasus spyware scare spre across country. Meanwhile, downlos for or end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and Signal rose 10 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively. A week before Pegasus issue came to limelight, between October 17 and October 25, WhatsApp saw 8.9 million installs.

Facebook is suing NSO Group, an Israeli software company, for an alleged cyber-espion. Last week, WhatsApp revealed 1,400 Indians including journalists and human rights activists fell prey to Pegasus spyware. Pegasus is developed by an Israeli software company NSO Group. Once activated, Pegasus could re text messs, track calls, collect passwords, trace phone location from WhatsApp and certain or apps as well. NSO Group maintains its sole purpose is to provide techlogy to licensed government intelligence and law enforcement ncies.

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However, it remains this particular incident affects WhatsApp's plans to launch its UPI-enabled payments system -- WhatsApp Payments -- in country. WhatsApp Payments is still awaiting a regulatory clearance from Reserve Bank of India (RBI). WhatsApp h earlier said it hopes to roll out full-fledged payment services in India later this year. Once launched, WhatsApp payments will compete with likes of Paytm, Google Pay and PhonePe.

In related news, WhatsApp ranked above TikTok and became most-downloed app worldwide in Q3 2019, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower. WhatsApp received around 184 million installs in stipulated period. TikTok came second with around 176 million app installs, followed by Messenger, Facebook and Instagram. WhatsApp for Android also rolled out biometric auntication lock feature, amid Pegasus controversy, months after it first became available for iOS version of Facebook-owned messaging app.

RE | WhatsApp beats TikTok, gains most number of downlos in Q3 2019

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