Haldwani:

A class 10 student at an Uttarakhand school has filed a sexual harassment against one of her teachers. In her complaint, the girl claims that the teacher molested her and also sent her inappropriate pictures on WhatsApp and Snapchat.

The 16-year-old victim reported the incident to her parents, who subsequently filed a complaint with the police.

“A teacher at a private school in Haldwani had been sending lewd messages to a student on social media. We have received the complaint and initiated a probe. The accused will be arrested soon,” Haldwani circle officer Nitin Lohani said.

The accused teacher, who taught at the same school, allegedly molested the student and sent her explicit messages, causing her significant distress. The matter came to light when the student confided in her parents, who then approached social organizations for support. Together, they filed a complaint at the Kotwali police station.

New Delhi:

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk today targeted Meta-owned WhatsApp for allegedly exporting users’ data every night.

An X user posted that WhatsApp exports user data every night, which is “analysed and used for targeted advertising, making users the product, not the customer”.

Elon Musk replied that “WhatsApp exports your user data every night”. “Some people still think it is secure,” said the tech billionaire.

Meta or WhatsApp were yet to comment on Elon Musk’s allegation.

WhatsApp exports your user data every night.

Some people still think it is secure. https://t.co/LxDs7t7HSv

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 25, 2024

Computer programmer and video game developer, John Carmack, responded to Elon Musk, saying is there any evidence that the content of messages is ever scanned or transmitted?

“I assume usage patterns and routing metadata is collected, and if you invoke a bot in a conversation you are obviously opening it up, but I am still under the impression that the message contents are secure by default,” John Carmack posted on X.

The X owner has attacked Mark Zuckerberg-run Meta Platform in the past too.

Earlier this month, the billionaire claimed that Meta is super greedy at taking credit for advertisers who run campaigns on its platform.

The rivalry between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg is well known.

They were apparently set for a “cage fight’ some time back – dubbed as the fight of the century. However, the showdown between the tech leaders never happened.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

WhatsApp fraud, or WhatsApp scams, involve deceptive schemes aimed at manipulating users of the messaging platform into divulging personal details, transferring funds, or installing malicious software. These scams encompass a range of tactics, leveraging trust, fear, or greed. Among the existing types of WhatsApp scams, like impersonation, phishing, investment, and gift or prize scams, a new variant has recently emerged.

Now users have to be cautious of unexpected calls from group members on WhatsApp. A new audio call scam is targeting users, potentially draining their savings accounts, according to The Metro.

Action Fraud, the UK’s leading cybercrime reporting centre, has received hundreds of complaints from victims. The scam involves a fraudster impersonating a member of a WhatsApp group chat. They’ll often use a fake profile picture and display name to appear legitimate.

The scammer then initiates a call and informs the victim that they’ll be receiving a one-time passcode (OTP) to join a group video call. However, the real purpose is to gain access to the victim’s account. They’ll trick the victim into sharing the OTP under the guise of “registering” for the call.

In reality, the OTP is used to register the victim’s WhatsApp account on a new device, effectively taking control of it. Scammers can then use the compromised account to target the victim’s friends and family, potentially requesting money or spreading further scams.

In reality, the code provided is actually an access code that grants the scammer control over the victim’s WhatsApp account by registering it on a different device. Subsequently, the scammer activates two-step verification, effectively locking the victim out of their own account. With this control, the scammer can then exploit the victim’s contacts by sending messages, often soliciting money under false pretences of dire circumstances.

Detective Superintendent Gary Miles, head of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at the City of London Police, told The Metro: “WhatsApp remains an integral mode of communication for many people across the UK; however, fraudsters still find ways to infiltrate these platforms. Sadly, anyone can become a target for fraud.”

New Delhi:

Messaging platform WhatsApp launched its Telegram-like feature called ‘Channels’ – A one-way broadcast tool for users to follow celebrities and handles of their interest like news, cinema, sports, entertainment, technology and even memes etc.

Meta founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg launched the feature in India and over 150 countries. In a Facebook post, Mr Zuckerberg said, “Today we’re starting to roll out WhatsApp Channels globally and adding thousands of new channels that people can follow in WhatsApp.

How to access Channels

WhatsApp users have to ensure that they are using the updated version of the app. WhatsApp channels are available in the ‘Updates’ column next to chats on the app. The users then have to click on a (+) sign and then on ‘New Channel’. Click on ‘Get Started’ after which the application will give some prompts on the screen.

The move by the Meta-owned platform aims to rival Telegram, though WhatsApp has an edge due to more number of downloads and popularity. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have joined WhatsApp channels as well. 

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat. 

Features of WhatsApp channels

WhatsApp Channels offer users an enhanced directory based on their countries. They can also view channels that are new, most active and popular based on the number of followers.

The reaction feature has been extended to WhatsApp Channels as well. Users can react using emojis. However, they will not be shown to other followers..