The chance that you will be hacked via WhatsApp is small. Still, it is better to take precautions, because the consequences of a hack can be serious. In this article, we’ll answer the most important questions about WhatsApp hacks and help keep your account secure.
WhatsApp Hack: 5 Questions and Answers
Just like in real life, you can never exclude all risks digitally. This became apparent, for example, when Amazon boss Jeff Bezos turned out to have been hacked last year. The CEO, without realizing it himself, had pressed a WhatsApp hack, as a result of which the content of his messages was shared with others for a long time. In this article, we’ll talk to you about everything you need to know to avoid such a scenario using 5 questions and answers.
1. How do you get hacked on WhatsApp?
To get straight to the point: no app is one hundred percent safe. WhatsApp also has vulnerabilities. Malicious people can use these to hack unsuspecting victims. There is no one fixed formula for this. Amazon leader Bezos, for example, was hacked by means of a video that secretly contained a virus. Personal data was then transferred from his phone without his knowing.
However, you can also be hacked via links sent to you that lead you to fraudulent websites. The link itself can also contain trouble, such as ransomware. As soon as you tap the link, your phone locks – and you can no longer use it – and you have to pay money to get the unlock code. Furthermore, criminals can take over your WhatsApp account remotely via social hacking. They do this by intercepting the WhatsApp verification code, for example via voicemail.
In short: there are countless ways to get hacked via WhatsApp.
Read more: Beware of social hacking: ensure extra security for WhatsApp
2. What is the chance that I will be hacked?
That said, the chances of this actually happening are a lot less. WhatsApp is generally a very safe chat app. For example, messages are sent encrypted. This allows only you and the recipient to read (or listen / see) the content. In theory, every app can be cracked, but by taking a number of precautions yourself, you can significantly reduce this risk.
3. Making WhatsApp safe: 3 tips
An important first tip is to set up two-step verification. This sounds complicated, but it is actually quite simple. As soon as you enable this, you must enter a code when registering your telephone number. This is separate from WhatsApp.
This is how you set up WhatsApp two-step verification:
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and go to ‘Settings’;
- Choose ‘Account’ and tap on ‘Two-step verification’;
- Slide the switch so that the box turns green.
It is also important to secure your WhatsApp profile with a face scan or fingerprint. When opening the app, you must verify that it is you. Depending on your iPhone model, you use Face ID or Touch ID for this. In the WhatsApp settings menu, select ‘Settings’, after which you go to ‘Screen lock’ via ‘Privacy’. Here, slide the switch to make opening WhatsApp more secure.
Finally, it is useful to secure your voicemail. By means of social hacking, as discussed above, malicious parties can hijack your WhatsApp account. The easiest way to guard against this is to set a password for your voicemail. How you do this differs per provider. In any case, always start by calling the number 1233. Then follow the directions below:
- KPN: Press 2 to access the settings and select option 1 to change the access code. Enter a new password.
- Tele2: Select option 4 in the menu and replace the code.
- T-Mobile: Press 9 to go to the settings and press 2 again, followed by 2. Now enter a new password.
- Vodafone: Select option 11 in the main menu and press 2, followed by 3. Now enter a new pin code.
4. How do I know that I have been hacked?
That is a good, but difficult question. A hack is not always clearly present. Take the story of Bezos: this WhatsApp hack only surfaced after a long time. There are some things you can pay attention to. Have you noticed that your status has suddenly been changed, your profile picture has been changed or that conversations have been added that you do not know about? Then someone else may have access to your account.
Even when your internet usage suddenly shoots up, it is advisable to be extra alert. The same goes for when voice messages appear in WhatsApp that you have not sent yourself. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to check if your WhatsApp messages are being shared with others in the background. In addition, most hackers will be quite careful and leave as few traces as possible.
5. How do you undo a WhatsApp hack?
Precautions are important, but come too late when you have been hit by a WhatsApp hack. Are you sure you were or were targeted by a malicious person? Then you better err on the side of caution and delete your profile altogether. To do this, go to ‘Account’ in the WhatsApp settings screen, and then tap on ‘Delete my account’.
Please note: if you choose this option, all your personal settings, received and sent messages and any videos and photos will be deleted. Removing your WhatsApp profile is therefore only recommended in cases where you are sure that someone has hacked your account. The nice thing about this option is that the hacker cannot re-enter through a back door: after all, you have a new profile. Of course, this profile can be hacked again.
If the virus has lodged itself in your entire iPhone, it is best to perform a factory reset. All your personal data, photos and music, for example, are erased and you start with a completely clean slate. Check the article below for detailed instructions on how to restore factory settings on your iPhone.
Also relevant: This is how you reset the iPhone to factory settings
More about WhatsApp
On iPhone we are happy to help you secure your online accounts. In our WhatsApp security guide, for example, we explain how you can lock your profile as well as possible. You may not always think about it, but criminals are also increasingly using the popular chat app. For example, more and more fraud is committed via. Read our article on WhatsApp fraud to learn more about this.
-
WhatsApp on the Apple Watch: this is how you send apps from your wrist
-
Explanation: Import animated stickers into WhatsApp
-
Tip: This is how you transfer WhatsApp conversations from Android to iPhone
-
Opinion: Making WhatsApp less encrypted is a recipe for misery
-
(Video) calling with WhatsApp Desktop now possible: this is how it works