“In recent days, cases have been observed where cybercriminals in Azerbaijan have taken over corporate WhatsApp numbers of large companies and used them for blackmail purposes.” Elvin Abbasov, chairman of the Azerbaijan Information and Communication Technologies Industry Association, told Medianews.az.
He stated that this is a serious risk not only for the reputation and finances of companies but also regarding the security of customer data: “The attack scheme is usually carried out through social engineering, phishing links, or deceptive confirmation messages. Once the number is taken over, money is demanded from the company management and they are threatened with the dissemination of data. According to Azerbaijan legislation, these acts are considered serious crimes.”
According to E. Abbasov, companies should primarily activate two-factor authentication functionality to protect themselves, educate employees responsible for corporate numbers, and be cautious of suspicious messages: “At the same time, ‘WhatsApp Web’ sessions should be regularly monitored, and suspicious logins should be immediately terminated. In case of an attack, it is necessary to apply to law enforcement authorities in a timely manner, make no payments to criminals, and collect all evidence.
These incidents once again show that digital security must now be one of the main priorities of every institution. Protecting processes and communication channels requires not only technical measures but also continuous education and organizational discipline. Preventing such cases in Azerbaijan’s digital environment requires joint efforts from both government agencies and the private sector.”
Nailə Qasımova,
Medianews.az
