Explainer: WhatsApp Hackings, How to Stop Them and Regain Control
By Haddy Ceesay
WhatsApp is the most used application for communication in The Gambia with over 897 thousand users inside the country and this number continues to increase every day. However, WhatsApp hackings has been a challenge for many WhatsApp users (including journalists and human rights activists) who have fallen victim to hackers recently.
In this Explainer, we speak to IT and Cyber Security Expert Alex David Pratt of Fortizo Technologies about the techniques hackers use, how to stop them and regaining control of your phone.
According to Mr Pratt, “WhatsApp hacks have become ubiquitous and the damage hackers cause after gaining access to a victims account is terrible, I’ve personally witnessed an instance where a scammer was able to seize an individuals WhatsApp account and convince his close relatives to send over $500 US Dollars”.
The chart below highlights the number of users for six online applications in The Gambia.
See source of data below.
How Hackers Get Control of Your Phone
Mr Pratt explains that it all starts with securing your phone and understanding how hackers gain access to your phone. He presented three techniques used by hackers to gain access to your WhatsApp.
SIM Swapping: He noted that “while this is a less popular method and harder to achieve by Whatsapp hackers, it is nonetheless a potent one. Hackers can contact your mobile service provider, impersonate you and convince them to transfer your phone number to a new SIM card which they can use to login into to your Whatsapp account after receiving the verification code from your SIM card without your knowledge”.
Phishing: Mr Pratt explains that Phishing is “the concerted efforts of hackers to send you deceptive messages to lure you into sending them your verification code or other sensitive information that will easily grant them access”. It’s a commonly used technique by hackers.
Malware: This is more advanced which uses coding to gain access to your phone. Our expert revealed that “if hackers have physical access to your phone they can install malicious software which lets them see your Whatsapp messages, and other personal data. Even without having direct access to your phone they may also send suspicious links which will install malware on your phone the moment you click on it”.
Below is a link to an interview with IT and Cyber Security expert Mr Alex Pratt of Fortizo Technologies:
How to Stop WhatsApp Hackers
Mr Pratt highlights the damage hackers can do once they gain access to your WhatsApp. In countries where finance information is on phones, this can be a hackers ticket to withdrawing your money. He notes that “once hackers are able to seize your Whatsapp account, they may send messages to your contacts pretending to be you and ask them for money, spread malware or tarnish your reputation.”
The damage they can cause is beyond this, which is why it is essential to safeguard yourself from their attacks by doing all of the following:
Enable Two-Step Verification: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a PIN in addition to the verification code sent to your phone number. To enable two-step verification on WhatsApp, go to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification. Turn it on, create a six-digit PIN, and optionally provide an email address for recovery. Confirm the email address if provided. This adds an extra layer of security to your WhatsApp account.
Regularly Monitor Active Sessions: Check and log out from any suspicious devices that might have access to your account by going to WhatsApp Web/Desktop settings.
Use Strong Passwords for Your Mobile Carrier Account: Protect your SIM card from being swapped by setting a strong password or PIN with your mobile carrier”.
How to Regain Access to Your WhatsApp
You might be reading this article too late and a hacker has gotten control of your phone. Well, don’t worry because our Cyber Security expert has some tips to follow which will help you regain access to your WhatsApp and protect it from future hacking attempts.
According to Mr Pratt “you can regain control by following these steps:
Log out of all WhatsApp Web and Desktop sessions on your phone.
Inform your contacts that your account was hacked.
Reach out to WhatsApp support through their help center and report the issue.
Re-register your WhatsApp account with your phone number.
Verify your identity with a 6-digit code sent to your phone.
If you have enabled two-factor authentication, you will need to enter the PIN”.
Once you have regained access from the hacker “it is recommended that you change your WhatsApp password and enable two-factor authentication for added security.
This Explainer was first published on FactCheckGambia.org in the link. https://factcheckgambia.org/explainer-whatsapp-hackings-how-to-stop-them-and-regain-control/
