Supriya Sule, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra, has sounded the alarm about the vulnerability of mobile phones to hacking. Following an incident where her own phone and WhatsApp account were compromised, she emphasized the need for heightened awareness and urged everyone to exercise caution.
Sule’s initial post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 11th revealed the hacking incident, urging people not to contact her as she sought help from the police. She later confirmed that her accounts were back online, thanking Pune Rural Police and WhatsApp Support for their assistance. However, the incident did not end there.
Sule revealed that hackers attempted to blackmail her team, demanding $400 after gaining access to her WhatsApp account. She further disclosed that Aditi Nalawade, the party general secretary, also fell victim to a similar hack, with hackers demanding ₹ 10,000. While they initially agreed to pay the ransom to stall the hackers, the incident highlights the potential for financial and reputational damage stemming from such attacks.
The recent incident has raised concerns about the security of personal data and the increasing sophistication of cybercrime. Sule’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal information and adopting robust security practices to protect against hacking attempts.
In her public statements, Sule has urged individuals to avoid sharing OTPs (One-Time Passwords) and clicking on unknown links, emphasizing the need for vigilance in online interactions. Her warning underscores the critical role individual awareness plays in mitigating the risks associated with cybercrime.
