How to Secure Your WhatsApp Account from Hacking Attempts

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. It allows you to send messages, make voice and video calls, share media files, and more. But how secure is your WhatsApp account? Can someone hack into your account, read your messages, or access your contacts? This blog post will show you how to secure your WhatsApp account from hacking attempts and protect your privacy and data.

Here are some of the steps you can take to secure your WhatsApp account:

• Set up Two-Step Verification
• Enable Fingerprint or Face ID Lock
• Check Encryption
• Don't Fall for Common Scams and Forwards
• Disable Auto Group Addition
• Change Your Privacy Settings
• Block and Report

Let's look at each of these steps in detail with relevant examples.

• Set up Two-Step Verification

1. Two-step verification is the best step to protect your WhatsApp account. Commonly called 2FA, when you enable it, WhatsApp adds a second layer of protection to your account. You must enter a six-digit PIN that you set up when you register or log in to WhatsApp on a new device. This way, even if someone gets hold of your phone number and verification code, they won't be able to access your account without the PIN.
2. Go to Settings > Account > Two-step verification and tap Enable to set up two-step verification. You will be asked to enter and confirm a six-digit PIN of your choice. You can also provide an email address in case you forget your PIN or need to reset it. Make sure you use a valid email address that you can access and don't share it with anyone.
3. WhatsApp will periodically ask you to enter your PIN to verify your identity and help you remember it. If you forget your PIN, you can request a reset link via email or wait for seven days to log in without the PIN. However, if you don't have an email address linked to your account and you forget your PIN, you won't be able to access your account for seven days. After these seven days, your account will be deleted, and you will have to create a new one.

• Enable Fingerprint or Face ID Lock

1. You might already protect your iPhone or Android phone with biometrics, such as fingerprint or face recognition. But did you know that you can also lock your WhatsApp app with these features? This adds another layer of security to your account and prevents anyone from opening your app without your permission.
2. To enable fingerprint or face ID lock on WhatsApp, go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Screen Lock and turn on the toggle for Require Touch ID (for iPhone) or Require Fingerprint (for Android). You can also choose how soon you want the app to lock after closing it: immediately, after 1 minute, after 15 minutes, or after 1 hour.
3. Once you enable this feature, you will need to scan your fingerprint or face every time you open WhatsApp. You can still answer calls and reply to messages from notifications without unlocking the app.

• Check Encryption

1. WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for all its messages and calls. This means that only you and the person you are communicating with can read or listen to what is sent or said. No one else, not even WhatsApp, can access or intercept your conversations.
2. To verify that your chats are encrypted, you can check the security code of each contact. The security code is a unique 60-digit number representing the encryption key used for each discussion. You can compare this code with your reference by scanning a QR code or reading the digits.
3. To check a contact's security code, open their chat and tap on their name at the top. Then tap on Encryption, and you will see the QR code and the 60-digit number. You can scan their code with your phone's camera or ask them to read it. If the codes match, your chat is secure and encrypted.
4. You can also share your code by tapping Share at the bottom. This will allow you to send your code via email, SMS, or other apps. You should only share your code with trusted contacts and verify it before sending any sensitive information.

Don't Fall for Common Scams and Forwards

Scammers and hackers often use WhatsApp to trick users into revealing their personal or financial information, downloading malicious software, or clicking phishing links. Some of the common scams and forwards that you should be aware of are:

1. Messages that claim to be from WhatsApp or other official sources and ask you to verify your account, update your app, or provide your details. WhatsApp will never contact you via chat or ask you for your verification code, PIN, or email address. You should constantly update your app from the official app store and not from any links sent to you.
2. Messages that offer you gifts, rewards, coupons, or money in exchange for completing a survey, entering a contest, or clicking on a link. These are usually phishing attempts to steal your information or infect your device with malware. You should never click on suspicious links or provide information to unknown sources.
3. Messages that warn you about a virus, a hack, or a security threat and urge you to forward them to your contacts or groups. These are usually hoaxes or chain messages that spread misinformation and panic. Before delivering it to others, you should always verify any information's source and accuracy. You can also use the built-in search feature on WhatsApp to look up any claims or facts on the web.

• Disable Auto Group Addition

1. WhatsApp allows you to create and join groups with up to 256 members. Groups can help you stay in touch with your family, friends, colleagues, or communities. However, sometimes you might receive unwanted invitations or be added to groups without your consent. This can expose you to spam, harassment, or abuse from strangers or unwanted contacts.
2. To prevent this from happening, you can disable the auto group addition feature on WhatsApp and control who can add you to groups. To do this, go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups and choose one of the following options:
3. Everyone: Anyone can add you to groups without an invitation.
4. My Contacts: Only your contacts can add you to groups without an invitation. Anyone else will have to send you an invitation that you can accept or decline within 72 hours.
5. My Contacts Except for Only your contacts, except those you select, can add you to groups without an invitation. Anyone else will have to send you an invitation that you can accept or decline within 72 hours.
6. You can also block any group invitations from specific contacts by tapping Blocked Contacts at the bottom and selecting the contacts you want to stop.

• Change Your Privacy Settings

WhatsApp lets you change your privacy settings and control who can see your information and activity. You can change the following locations by going to Settings > Account > Privacy:

1. Last Seen: This shows when you were last online on WhatsApp. You can show it to Everyone, My Contacts, or Nobody.
2. Profile Photo: This shows your profile picture on WhatsApp. You can show it to Everyone, My Contacts, or Nobody.
3. About This shows your status message on WhatsApp. You can show it to Everyone, My Contacts, or Nobody.
4. Status: This shows your status updates on WhatsApp. You can share them with All Contacts, My Contacts Except, or Only Share With specific contacts.
5. Read Receipts: This shows when you have read a message on WhatsApp. If you turn it off, you won't be able to see when others have read your messages either. However, this doesn't apply to group chats and voice notes.
6. Live Location: This lets you share your real-time location with others on WhatsApp. You can choose who you want to share it with and for how long. You can also stop sharing it at any time.
7. Blocked Contacts: This allows you to block any contacts you don't want to communicate with on WhatsApp. You won't receive any messages, calls, or status updates from them.

• Block and Report

1. If you receive any abusive, offensive, or unwanted messages or calls from anyone on WhatsApp, you can block and report them. This will prevent them from contacting you again and alert WhatsApp about their behaviour.
2. To block and report a contact on WhatsApp, open their chat and tap on their name at the top. Then scroll down and tap on Block Contact > Block or Report and Block. You can also block contacts from their profile photo by tapping and holding on to it and selecting Block.
3. To block and report a group on WhatsApp, open the group chat and tap on the group name at the top. Then scroll down and tap on Report Group > Report and Exit or Report and Exit Group.
4. You can also unblock a contact or group by going to Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked Contacts, tapping on the contact or group name, and selecting Unblock.

Conclusion

WhatsApp is excellent for staying connected with your loved ones, but it also comes with risks and challenges. Following these steps, you can secure your WhatsApp account and protect your privacy and data from hacking attempts.

This blog post was helpful and informative for you. Please let us know in the comments below if you have any questions or feedback. And don't forget to share this post with your friends and family who use WhatsApp!