Pakistan is seeking WhatsApp alternative to protect official data

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is trying to develop a local instant messaging application to protect its official data and sensitive information from hackers and hostile intelligence agencies.

Senior government and military officials have already been barred from using WhatsApp to share any classified information. 

Read Also: Pakistan to introduce electric buses to fight air pollution

“We have been working to improve our cyber security and develop a messaging application like WhatsApp for government officials as part of the move,” Dr. Arslan Khalid, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s focal person on digital media.

“This local application will help us protect sensitive government data and other classified information from hostile spying agencies and hackers.”

Pakistan is ranked among the top seven countries with the worst cyber security as over 25 percent of its mobile phones and 14.8 percent of computers are infected with malware, according to a study conducted by UK-based tech firm Comparitech.

Read More: Ford unveils all-electric Mustang SUV

The country is now planning to introduce intranet in government offices and develop a local alternative to WhatsApp to protect the official data from being hacked.

The authorities sprang into action after an Israeli spyware firm NSO was sued by WhatsApp/Facebook in the United States on October 29 for “violating both the US and California laws as well as the WhatsApp terms of service.”

A malware named “Pegasus” was employed, reportedly between April 28 and May 10, which affected approximately 1400 senior government and military officials in twenty countries including Pakistan.