Thanks to a well-thought-out subterfuge, hackers have found a way to deprive you of access to your WhatsApp account. Here is their technique and how to thwart it.-
Bad times for users of Facebook services. After the immense hacking of which the American giant was victim, and which led to the leakage of the personal data of 20 million French people (533 million people affected worldwide), the users of its WhatsApp messaging system are today the target of a formidable attempted theft. This particularly well-established scam can lead to you simply being deprived of access to your own account!
A two-step scam
This “scam” relayed by our colleagues from the magazine Which, the British equivalent of What to choose, is formidable. First step: you receive a message from WhatsApp containing a 6-digit security code.
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Immediately afterwards, one of your contacts (friend, family, colleague…) alerts you: “Sorry, I mistakenly sent you my 6-digit security code. Can you transfer it to me please. It’s urgent ! “
But in reality, the person sending this message is not who you think it is. Because his account has been hacked! The scammers have thus recovered your mobile phone number and are in the process of installing your WhatsApp account on another smartphone. Also, if you ever give them this security code (which is really sent by WhatsApp), you fall into the trap. Thanks to it, they will seize your account to which you will no longer have access at all and pretend to be you!
The circle is closed: the “scammers” will use the same process to try to trap your contacts in the same way.
Still an English-speaking scam, but until when?
This strategy of theft of WhatsApp accounts currently targets English-speaking users of the application. But it could be that it adapts and is declined in several languages in view of its speed of propagation.
How can you protect yourself from it? By activating now the two-step verification offered by messaging. Intended to strengthen the security of your account, it is detailed in the FAQ of WhatsApp, of which we will summarize the procedure.
- In WhatsApp Settings, tap Account> Two-Step Verification> Activate.
- Enter a 6-digit PIN code of your choice and confirm it.
- Provide your email address, which will reset the two-step verification and help protect your account (without adding it, if you forget your PIN, you will have to wait 7 days before you can do it. reset).
- Tap Next.
- Confirm the email address and tap Save or Done.
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