How To Know If Your WhatsApp Account Has Been Hacked And How To Fix It
By Kweku Jasper
The popular messaging app managed by Facebook is said to be encrypted but this does not make it un-hackable. Having your WhatsApp account hacked is everybody’s worst nightmare, not to mention a serious violation of privacy. What happens if your WhatsApp account is hacked?
The hacker can keep an eye on you like when you come online WhatsApp, your sleeping pattern, your online activity, read and reply to your chats, delete chats and media, committing crimes and much more.
Hackers can access your WhatsApp data by various means like via WhatsApp web, registering your number on another device, using spy apps, emailing your chats among others.
WhatsApp cannot work on two phones at the same time though Facebook hint of such a new feature soon, but hackers if register your number on another device, can easily get hold of all your chats including the personal ones.
Hackers can quickly scan your WhatsApp QR code and access your WhatsApp conversation from anywhere in the world. However, this requires hackers to have physical access to your phone to access the QR code.
To know if your WhatsApp web is active on an unknown device, go to the three dots given in the top right corner of your WhatsApp window. Go to WhatsApp Web and check the list of all open sessions. This will let you see all the devices that are connected to your WhatsApp.
If you are seeing a message “This phone could not be verified“, it means your WhatsApp has been assessed by an unknown device also.
Further tips to prevent WhatsApp from getting hacked:
- Log out from all computers that you see in the list under WhatsApp Web. This will stop hackers from reading your chats further. However, this should be done every time you use the WhatsApp web.
- Do not leave your phone unattended when you are out.
- Do not accept request from apps or install apps you do not know
- Lock all your apps to prevent unknown people to access your apps.
- Do not connect your phone to unknown Wi-Fi connections as hackers can also use the unique MAC address to access all your WhatsApp chats.
- In case, your WhatsApp is already hacked, deactivate your account by emailing at support@whatsapp.com. Your account will be automatically deleted if not assessed for 30 days.
- Enable 2-step verification under WhatsApp Account settings. This will add an extra layer of security over the app.
- Lock WhatsApp. It is imperative to have the App lock that will help you lock your WhatsApp. While WhatsApp does not offer this application within itself, you can download it and the app facilitates the use of your WhatsApp with a password or PIN.
- This will help you prevent anyone who accesses your phone from accessing your WhatsApp account since they will require a password to open it.
Hope this article helps you to secure your WhatsApp account from being hacked. Let me know what you think in the comment mailbox below. And in a case that I left out anything, kindly let me know….you can join our telegram page for a detailed article on the topic, click on the logo below to join.
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About Kweku Jasper
I am a multi talented African son growing up in a cold but hot world, where nothing is what it seems to be. I am an optimist by faith, R.N by profession, Web developer by practice, Tech preacher by decision, promoter by love, blogger by inspiration, photographer by occupation, marketer by calling, satirist by tribe, entrepreneur by origin, events manager by love, non-bias and rich by choice, illustrious by divine arrangement and Ghanaian by law. I am a Data Scientist by curiosity, ML & Al fun, a Cybersecurity advocate, SEO consultant & a UI/UX Researcher. Simply put, I am all things to all men at all times.
