We’re still fretting about Martinelli?
WhatsApp users are being duped by a piece of chain-mail currently in circulation, which warns them of a malicious piece of software that can hack any device.
The virus is said to come in the form of a video, titled Martinelli, and is capable of hacking into a phone in less than ten seconds while also causing irreparable damage.
One version of the message is as follows: “Warning from Sean Lee in An Garda, an IT colleague has advised that a video comes out tomorrow from WhatsApp called martinelli, do not open it, it hacks your phone and nothing will fix it. Spread the word.”
The Martinelli Video previously threatened to hack Irish devices “tomorrow” back in December.
However, JOE has learned that the recent spate of reports – warning of its threat – are the result of its accidentally being mentioned on a weekly crime prevention bulletin, issued by Limerick divisional Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Ber Leetch to local media.
Back in July 2017, Spanish Police debunked the Martinelli hoax, while Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly has said: “This is a hoax, there is no viable threat. It reminds me of the chain messages I used to get in the post when I was a kid, this is just a modern version of that.”
Circula por #WhatsApp📱 este mensaje advirtiendo sobre el "vídeo de Martinelli"👉🏻#Stopbulos, ✋🏻no lo compartas https://t.co/TtAb0aYNUE pic.twitter.com/R4aOovWAo3
— Policía Nacional (@policia) July 29, 2017
So there we go. People of all ages, from all walks of life are being tricked by this pest.
Send this on to 10 of your friends or your crush will never talk to you again.
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