Discover 10 tips to better secure your WhatsApp account.
There are easy ways to make your WhatsApp account more secure. © tashatuvango – stock.adobe.com
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WhatsApp is a secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging application. It helps prevent third parties from intercepting the transmission of your communications. Nevertheless, it is useful to take a few extra precautions to use WhatsApp in a more secure way.
1. Protect your privacy
In the privacy settings, you are free to choose the level of privacy you want. It allows you to define who will be able to see your profile picture, your username, and when you were last active.
To enhance security, and better protect privacy, it is recommended that you make this information visible only to your contacts, and not to all users. If you want maximum security, you can make your last activity time invisible to all users, including your contacts.
2. Activate two-factor authentication
The double authentication system is a strong authentication method, which allows a user to connect only if he is able to provide a pre-registered code, or sent on a predefined channel (phone number, email address, etc. .) in addition to the classic login credentials.
Enabling this system is highly recommended for WhatsApp, since even if a malicious person manages to hack your credentials, they will not be able to access your account without the required two-factor authentication code.
To activate it, go to Menu, then in Settings > Account > Two-factor authentication > Activate, then create the desired code, and define a security email address to retrieve it if you forget it.
3. Check the encryption
Even though all messages are encrypted by default, it may be useful to verify the encryption before sharing sensitive information (credit card number, bank details, etc.) to another user.
To make sure that the encryption is not compromised, all you need to do is click on the name of the desired contact and then press Encryption. A QR code followed by a series of 40 digits will appear on the screen. This security code guarantees correct data encryption. You can verify this manually by comparing the numbers with your contact, but also by scanning each other’s QR code.
4. Activate security notifications
WhatsApp has a security feature, which can detect when a new device enters a conversation. The application offers users to send a security notification to automatically notify them if this happens.
To activate this feature, go to Settings > Account > security > Show security notifications, then tick the appropriate box.
5. Get the latest version of WhatsApp
The most important WhatsApp updates can sometimes lead to exploitable security holes for hackers. It is for this reason that fixes are often made in additional updates. It is important to always make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp, to avoid getting stuck on a version with an exploitable security flaw.
You can check if an update is available in the store you are using (usually App Store for Apple or Play Store for Android). If you’ve turned on automatic updates, your app will always be up to date, but be sure to check it for each patch.
6. Pay attention to the reliability of your contacts
You are not the only person who can get hacked, and your contacts are just as vulnerable as you are. Some hackers steal accounts, and request sensitive information by posing as the hacked person to their contacts.
In the event of a request for sensitive information, be sure of the reliability of your contact (you can make sure that it is indeed the right person by calling or asking for a voice message for example).
7. Report suspicious messages
If you receive a suspicious message from a stranger asking you to share personal information, or click on a link for no good reason, don’t do it. It is most likely a malicious user trying to retrieve your private information via viruses hidden in the link.
Please feel free to report these behaviors so that WhatsApp can ban these malicious accounts. To report, simply go to the person’s contact card, then select Report. Manipulation is also available to flag an entire group.
8. Use remote logout
WhatsApp only allows one phone login for each account, so in the event your phone is lost / stolen, you can recover the account by logging in through another device, since it will be automatically logged out of the lost device. /Fly.
If you just want to log out the account without logging back in, you can use the remote logout feature. It automatically disconnects all devices (desktop and mobile). When changing your password, or in case of doubt about the security of your account, do not hesitate to disconnect all devices remotely.
9. Block suspicious users
You can block anyone you don’t trust. This feature prevents unwanted users from message or calling you. If you receive a suspicious message, do not hesitate to report it, but also to block its sender to prevent it from repeating.
Blocked users aren’t notified when you block them, but they might notice this by trying to message you again.
10. Secure the device you are using WhatsApp on
The security of your WhatsApp account comes first and foremost with the security of the device on which you use it. Indeed, if your phone is not locked by a strong password, or a secure PIN code, anyone can have access to your account if they are found with your phone in hand. This may be common sense, but avoid leaving your phone unattended.
Try to use different passwords for each account, because if you use the same one everywhere, you risk losing all of your accounts if hacked.
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