WhatsApp at Risk: Best Tips to Protect Your Account from Hacking

26th March 2025

5 minutes read

WhatsApp at Risk: Best Tips to Protect Your Account from Hacking

In today’s digital age, messaging applications such as WhatsApp have become central to our daily communication. These apps are private spaces that often hold personal information, encompassing a wide array of details about our lives, relationships with family and friends, and even work-related data. Some users may even store highly sensitive and confidential information on these platforms.

Given the sensitive nature of the information shared, it’s not surprising that a WhatsApp account can attract the attention of a wide range of individuals. While this could include jealous spouses, curious colleagues, or even acquaintances, it also opens the door to the more nefarious attention of cybercriminals.

A hacked WhatsApp account can be a valuable target for cybercriminals, as it may provide them with easy access to private conversations, personal data, or sensitive business information. These compromised accounts are often used for a variety of criminal activities, such as sending spam messages, spreading malware, or executing highly sophisticated scams that may affect not just the victim but also their contacts.

How Hackers Access WhatsApp Accounts

Cybercriminals are always searching for vulnerabilities in messaging apps, and WhatsApp is no exception. They employ various methods to compromise an account. It’s essential to understand these methods to better defend against them and keep your account secure.

There are primarily two ways hackers can gain control of a WhatsApp account:

Adding a New Device to an Existing Account via the “Linked Devices” Feature: This method involves the hacker adding their device to an existing WhatsApp account. The WhatsApp user can continue using the app normally, but the attackers can access and view all recent conversations, as well as use the account to perform illicit activities.

Re-registering the Account on the Attacker’s Device: In this scenario, the hacker takes control of the account by registering it on their own device. This process often involves bypassing the victim’s control of their WhatsApp account, making it appear as though the hacker has acquired a new phone. The user loses all access to their account, and when attempting to log in, they are met with a message saying that the account is already in use on another device. While the hacker gains control over the account, they will not have access to prior conversations, only the ongoing ones.

Both of these methods can result in serious consequences for the victim, including loss of control over their account and potential exposure of private or sensitive data.

Steps to Protect Your WhatsApp Account

In case your WhatsApp account has been compromised, there are a set of instructions provided by WhatsApp to help recover your account. However, it’s always better to prevent such issues from happening in the first place. By taking certain proactive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and ensure that your account remains secure.

Activate Two-Step Verification

Experts agree that the most critical step to securing your WhatsApp account is enabling two-step verification. This feature adds an extra layer of security to your account. With two-step verification enabled, even if someone obtains your login credentials, they will still need to enter a unique PIN to gain access to your account. This PIN is not a one-time password, so it must be remembered and safeguarded. To activate this feature, navigate to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification.

Keep Your PIN Safe

It is crucial to never share your PIN or the one-time verification codes that WhatsApp sends to you via SMS or email. If someone asks for these details, they are most likely a scammer trying to gain unauthorized access to your account. Only provide these details to WhatsApp directly and through official channels.

Enable Passkey Support

WhatsApp has also introduced support for passkeys, which offer a more secure way to authenticate your identity when logging in. Instead of using a traditional PIN, you can enable biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or face recognition) to log into your account. This is a highly secure option as it requires your physical presence to unlock the app. To activate passkey support, go to Settings > Account > Security Settings and enable the biometric option. While this is a robust security measure, it may be less convenient for those who frequently switch between different devices or operating systems (such as Android and iOS).

Set Up a Backup Email Address

In addition to securing your account with two-step verification, WhatsApp allows you to register a backup email address to assist in account recovery. If your account is ever compromised or if you forget your PIN, you can use this backup email to receive recovery instructions. You can add a recovery email by going to Settings > Account > Email Address. This can be a lifesaver if you are unable to access your phone or experience issues with logging in.

Watch Out for SIM Swap Scams

A particularly sneaky form of hacking is the SIM swap scam, in which cybercriminals try to gain control of your phone number by duping your mobile carrier into issuing them a new SIM card. This allows them to intercept messages, including the two-factor authentication codes sent by WhatsApp. To ensure that you haven’t fallen victim to a SIM swap, you should contact your mobile carrier and confirm that no duplicate SIM cards have been issued for your phone number. Additionally, you should ensure that no unauthorized call forwarding or message interception features have been activated on your account.

By following these steps, you can dramatically reduce the risk of your WhatsApp account being hacked. While no security system is completely foolproof, taking these precautionary measures will go a long way in protecting your personal and sensitive data from cybercriminals. Remember, the best defense against hacking is staying vigilant, informed, and proactive about your account’s security.

Keep Your Device and WhatsApp Updated

To further protect your account, always ensure that both your device’s operating system and the WhatsApp app itself are up to date. Regular updates often include important security patches that protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities. By neglecting these updates, you leave your account open to potential exploits that hackers can use to gain access.

Be Cautious of Phishing Scams

Phishing is a common technique used by hackers to deceive users into providing sensitive information, such as their account credentials or verification codes. Always be wary of suspicious links or unsolicited messages asking for personal details. WhatsApp will never ask you to share sensitive information via text or email, so it’s crucial to recognize and avoid these types of scams.

In conclusion, while messaging apps like WhatsApp have become an indispensable part of our lives, they also present significant security risks. By following these steps and maintaining good security habits, you can minimize the chances of your account being hacked and safeguard your private information from malicious actors. Stay aware, stay secure, and protect your account from the growing threat of cybercrime.