WhatsApp is the instant messaging app with more users worldwide, and this platform can save images, audios, videos, texts, etc. However, this warehouse of private information can be attacked by hackers.
Recurrently the danger of being attacked comes from the uses without prevention of the users in WhatsApp, but it is possible that the susceptibility of being hacked is minimized by resorting to the protection options of data.
Devices conditioned to function with an internet connection, are prone to hacking personal accounts, and therefore, private files. To prevent attacks of this type, we inform you and recommend the following.
What are the biggest vulnerabilities that allow hacking WhatsApp?
exist a series of vulnerabilities that you should take into consideration, because they allow hackers to access your account WhatsApp.
Here are the main ones:
The Google Drive cloud
WhatsApp directs the backups to Google Drive, if you have that option enabled. Although the conversations in WhatsApp have the encryption that promises security, all information is stored in the Google Drive cloud, and Google It is not obliged, if requested, to hide or not information.
The QR code
The explanation to understand this vulnerability is simple. A cybercriminal can prepare a promotional package of WhatsApp Web and ask you to scan your QR code for more information on the offering. If the offer convinces you and you decide Access by scanning your QR code, the hacker will have the ability to manipulate your WhatsApp account and get directly the data you have archived.
WhatsApp Gallery Selector
This vulnerability could occur in the version of WhatsApp for Android devices, and receive a cyberattack that compromises the security of important files, is possible just by opening the gallery selector WhatsApp. What a hacker needs to do to get his intervention is to send a malicious GIF file to the victim, and wait for it to open the gallery through WhatsApp.
That is to say, The GIF itself, although malicious, is not directly what causes the hack, but accessing the WhatsApp gallery selector enables the threat. Although this flaw has already been fixed, it is recommended to update the app to avoid problems.
Learn how to prevent your WhatsApp profile from being hacked by following these tips
If you wish protect your WhatsApp profile, there are a number of simple tips that you can apply. Although they sound very obvious, few are the users who pay due attention to it. Write them down!
Let's see below:
Do not enter any strange link
The Suspicious links abound in WhatsApp groups or in some broadcast of a message, but if you do not lose caution, they can be easily identified. The convenient thing is find out what the information to which the link will redirect you is about, it doesn't hurt to ask the known or random contact who shared the link if entering the link is reliable.
Close the WhatsApp Web session
We usually finish using WhatsApp Web and leave the account open on the computer. That carelessness can easily harm you, because if someone accesses your account from the same computer, which is still in an active session, they have free rein to acquire information in the available chats. It is best to close the session when you finish using WhatsApp Web.
Get started with security notifications
It is a function to check that encryption protection is activated. When it's used WhatsApp from a new device, automatically a security code that appears. The app can even notify you about the security code change through a notification. This way you can make sure that the encryption of a chat have the required security guaranteed.
If you want to activate security notifications, you must do the following:
- Enter WhatsApp.
- Go to Settings.
- Walk into Bill.
- Select the option Security.
- To choose Show security notifications.
Thus it will change the function to green and you will have the possibility to better protect your data in case you become a victim of a cyber attack.
Enable two-step verification
For greater security it would be convenient to use this option which by default is not activated. If you enable this possibility, when registering your number on another device, WhatsApp will ask you for a PIN unique numeric to continue. Therefore, it is preferable not to share this code with anyone.
To obtain this level of security you must do the following:
- Enter WhatsApp.
- Go to Settings.
- Walk into Bill.
- Select the Two-step verification.
- Activate the function.
- Choose code six-digit numeric.
What to do if WhatsApp has already been hacked? How to recover my account?
Even if WhatsApp security is pretty good, scenarios may occur in which someone has access to your account, such as the loss or theft of the device.
In the event that an altercation of this kind happens to you, or if you actually suffer a WhatsApp hack, you should do the following:
Proceed to lock the SIM card
Requesting the SIM card lock either due to loss or theft of the mobile, the operator of the telephone company to which you belong will be in charge of deactivating all the functions of the card in question. That will allow WhatsApp cannot connect to the network. Plus to re-enter the app, you would need a confirmation code that would send WhatsApp to the blocked SIM card. However, there is the possibility that someone can enter your chats if they connect to a WiFi network.
Use your phone number to reinstall WhatsApp from another mobile
To the lock sim card, you would also request to continue with the same phone number. By having a new card, you can reinstall WhatsApp from another device using your number, and the lost mobile would automatically be logged out.
Close existing sessions on WhatsApp Web
It is too possible that if you leave the WhatsApp session open on a foreign computer, someone has easy access to the messaging system, and therefore, usurp your identity and could collect private data of your belonging.
To be able to close all sessions, you have to do the following:
- Click on the vertical ellipsis that appear in the upper corner when entering WhatsApp.
- Enter the option WhatsApp Web.
- Close all sessions.