In light of many recent cases of WhatsApp “hacking” , If someone on your contact list has or is asking for your WhatsApp account verification code – BEWARE!!
It could be a scammer that is using your contact's WhatsApp account to make that request!
After getting many requests to investigate Whatsapp hacking cases and along with several associates, we have spent time researching and have analyzed how criminals are possibly hacking WhatsApp.
There is no technology used, however the victims are not managing to identify the criminals who are hiding using the name of the victim’s friend in most cases.
This explanation should assist and may help in creating more awareness on how to prevent WhatsApp hacking.
There are variants in the scam.
The scammers get hold of the WhatsApp account of the victim through an SMS verification code and make the victim lose access to their account.
The technique in this scam can be described as seen below:
First, the criminal creates a whatsapp verification code and sends it to the victim’s number, by hiding using a name of the victim’s friend or even a family member.
When the criminal gets the verification code, he/she instantly hacks the victim’s whatsapp and activates a two-step verification by entering his/her email and possibly changes the language settings as well.
It is at this phase that the victim’s account is completely hacked.
The victim may have to wait for at least 7 days to retrieve his/her account back before activating again.
During this wait period, the criminal silently completes his/her crime task of collecting all the contact details present in the victim’s list and then begins to send messages to them disguising him/herself using the name of the victim.
In some cases the criminal may even request to transfer money to the contacts mentioning that he/she is in a critical and desperate situation.
In this case many people really think that the request is legitimate as they understand that Whatsapp is safe.
There are also chances that the criminal might ask for personal data from your freinds and family and manipulate them as well hence receiving confidential personal information.
How do you know if your WhatsApp is indeed hacked?
Supposing you are using your whatsapp web in a third party device and have not signed out from the device, someone else can open the whatsapp web in the same device and can access your Whatsapp.
Even though this does not really mean hacking as such, this is also an extremely risky scam and can lead to situations where the criminal can even use very personal pictures and video and use this in extremely derogatory and degrading way.
The best solution is to frequently check your Whatsapp Web log from your main account, and if you identify any unauthorized devices, delete the device’s access from your main account.
In this way you can protect yourself from this type of Whatsapp attack.
In case you have lost your sim card or your mobile phone which is registered with the whatsapp account, the criminal might try to login with your mobile number.
This is common and a current trend especially in light of vast mobile phone theft.
The criminal will in this case receive an OTP and can easily thereafter login as he/she has your SIM card with him/her.
If you ever lose your sim card, block it at the earliest possible opportunity!!
Another case may be when the criminal succeeds to create a new account on his/her device with your registered mobile number; you will get a popup message saying that the number is already in use in another device.
How do you manage this type of WhatsApp scam ??
Make sure that you install Whatsapp via valid sources only. ( www.whatsapp.com, Apple or Google Play store).
Never allow others to scan your QR code!!!
Do not share your mobile devices with other people even if it’s for a short time!!
Initiate two-step verification with a PIN and your email account to protect your whatsapp account.
Never share the verification code with anyone - even if it is a request from your closest relative!!
Never attempt to transfer money based on a request you received via WhatsApp!!
To double check ...call your friend personally to check the authenticity of the request.
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app for both Smartphone & PC’s and Millions of users activate this app daily for their personal & business conversations and data sharing.
Take note !!!
There are a huge number of WhatsApp hacking attempts happening every day.
Protect your account!!
If you suspect that you have been hacked, scammed or targeted; simply change your whatsapp credentials without delay.
Marc Kahlberg
an expert on Cyber Intelligence at the global level, representing Vital Intelligence Group ,Vital Cyber Intelligence Solutions ,MKISC
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