A lot of people do not know that WhatsApp can be hacked. WhatsApp likes to label itself as being fully encrypted but that does not mean that the messaging app cannot be hacked.
The fact that it is very popular all over the world means that hackers will certainly target it.
Although hacking on WhatsApp does not happen, especially in our part of the world. Once someone can hack your account, the person can keep an eye on you.
They will be able to see when you come online, the time you are off at night, and what you do when you are online.
However, all these depend on the extent to which the hacker was able to hack you.
The WhatsApp QR code can also be hacked to get access to your WhatsApp. However, the hacker must get their hands on your phone physically first before they would be able to do that.
We will be looking at how WhatsApp can be hacked and how you stop it or prevent it from happening to you.
How To Know If You Have Been Hacked
Here are some ways through which you can tell if your WhatsApp account has been hacked or not.
Abnormal Phone Temperature
If your phone normally gets hot, there could be a good possibility that the phone gets hot due to it being hacked.
When apps are being used in the background, it causes the phone to get hot. This is normally caused by spyware on the phone.
Battery
If the battery in your phone seems to drain down too quickly when you leave the mobile data on, it could be possible that spyware is running on the phone without your knowledge.
How Your Whats App Can Be Hacked
Whatsapp Web
With WhatsApp web, you can use WhatsApp on both your phone and your computer at the same time.
However, hackers can also use it to access your account if they have a computer with your whats web on it.
When a person gets your phone, they can scan your WhatsApp QR code to enable them to access your WhatsApp on a different device.
Backup File
People can also get access to your WhatsApp messages if they can get their hands on your WhatsApp backup file.
They will then be able to read or delete the WhatsApp conversations. All they have to do is to transfer your WhatsApp backup folder to another device.
Wifi Network And WhatsApp Sniffer
Your WhatsApp can be compromised via the wifi link with a WhatsApp sniffer. Once the hacker can spoof your mac address, he will be able to see your activities on your WhatsApp.
Third-Party Spyware
Some hackers also make use of third-party apps to spy on their victims. An app such as Mspy can be used to spy on your WhatsApp when it is installed on your device.
This will then enable the hacker to see your WhatsApp conversation.
How To Repair Your WhatsApp After It Has Been Hacked
Whatsapp Web
You will need to disable the WhatsApp web connection the very minute you begin to suspect that something is not right with your phone.
If the hacker is using WhatsApp web to do that, then disconnecting your WhatsApp web will stop them. To do this:
- Click the three dots on the top right corner of your WhatsApp.
- You will then see a list of last-used clients. If you do not recognize it, then it is possible that someone was hacking into your account.
- You can stop this by clicking on logout all computers.
Using App Locker
It is also very advisable to use an app locker to lock all your apps so that no one will be able to get access to them.
One of the best ways for people to hack your phone is by getting physical access to it. So when you lock your apps, they will not be able to do anything even if they get your phone.
Two-Factor Authentication
You can also use WhatsApp’s two-factor authentication to prevent hacks. This requires a pin whenever someone tries to verify your phone number on another device.
To use two[factor authentication follow these steps:
- Go to settings
- Select Account
- Choose Two-step verification
- And then tap on enable.
You must make sure to remember the PIN since you will need to enter it when you try to install your WhatsApp on another phone.
However, WhatsApp can also send you a link via email to disable it in case you forget the PIN.
Here Are Some Ways to Keep Your WhatsApp Secure
- Avoid the use of public or free WiFi
- Never give your phone to just anyone, especially strangers who ask for it.
- Block installation of apps from unknown sources
So there you have it. WhatsApp can be hacked and it is also easy to avoid that happening. The surest way to prevent this is to make sure you don’t share your phone with anyone and you will be safe.
