The Federal Investigation Agency has warned about a sharp increase in citizens’ WhatsApp accounts being hacked.
Targeting Women’s Accounts
As per the initial reports of FIA, cybercriminals specifically target women’s WhatsApp accounts. These wrongdoers gain unauthorized access to these accounts and then exploit victims’ personal information by accessing private chats, photos, and videos, which can be used for blackmail or any other exploitative purpose.
Phishing:
This method involves sending fake messages that appear genuine to let users share their private information or click on malware-laden links. Such phishing attempts usually come as urgent or tempting messages requiring immediate response from users, thus compromising their account security.
Social Engineering is when criminals make individuals perform actions or reveal sensitive data. This could mean pretending to be trusted to win the victim’s trust and obtain confidential information.
These strategies have been designed with female users in mind – they take advantage of their data, pictures, talks, etcetera; because the accessed materials are intimate, it exposes them to abuse further.
Misuse of Compromised Accounts
Once hackers breach these Whatsapp accounts, FIA says they may use them to publish inappropriate content or engage in fraudulent activities, affecting not only the owner but all his/her contacts and larger social circle.
Preventive Measures
Following are some preventive measures highlighted by FIA against WhatsApp hacking:
Enable Two-Step Verification: Turning on two-step verification under WhatsApp settings adds a layer of protection around your account; it does this by requiring both PIN and regular verification codes, making it difficult for unauthorized persons to enter your account.
Avoid Dealing with Unknown Numbers: Be careful when dealing with messages, photos, audio, or files sent from numbers you are not familiar with; in most cases, these communications carry spam links or malicious files aimed at compromising your device and account safety.
Review Privacy Settings Regularly: Always review/update your privacy settings on WhatsApp to restrict access to certain personal details. Ensure that only people you trust can see status updates, profile pictures, etc.
Be Cautious of Unexpected Messages: Whenever you receive an unexpected message asking for personal information or requesting that you click on a link, please treat such communication with skepticism until the sender’s identity has been verified through other channels, if possible.
What To Do When Account Is Hacked
Here is what you need to do if suspecting that your WhatsApp account might have been hacked:
Contacting FIA: (WhatsApp)
Dial 1991 on the helpline for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) or visit their nearest cybercrime office, where they will provide necessary help and guidance through securing the account.
Reaching WhatsApp Help: (WhatsApp)
Contact the WhatsApp support team for assistance in recovering control over your hacked account. Follow all their procedures for regaining possession and implement recommended security measures against future compromises.
Informing Contacts: (WhatsApp)
Inform close friends, family members, and colleagues about and prevent this incident. They fall victim to fraudulent messages sent from compromised accounts.
The heightening of WhatsApp account hacks brings attention to the need for watchfulness and initiative in online security. If one follows the protective measures suggested by the FIA. They can protect their data more effectively and minimize the chances of account breaches. Awareness and carefulness will save you and your connections from cybercrime.
