How to Protect your WhatsApp from Hackers

WhatsApp is a great messaging tool which is incredibly easy to use. WhatsApp is able to send messages through an end-to-end encryption technique. This means that it generates a security code that is linked to your phone number and it transmits messages and media files in a secured manner.

Although WhatsApp appears to be secure, some simple setting could leave you prone to attack by hackers. When hackers attack your WhatsApp account, they can use various techniques but aim at doing one thing, reregistering your phone number on WhatsApp, which automatically locks you out of your account and gives them access to it.

Securing all your social media accounts is necessary, this process may vary depending on the platform but is the same principle all through. You can secure your WhatsApp account and make it less prone to hackers by enabling Two-step verification. It is a verification process that acts as an extra layer of security when every you need to register your phone number with WhatsApp.

How to enable Two-Step Verification on WhatsApp:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots on the top right of the screen
2. Tap 'Settings' > 'Account' and then select 'Two-step verification'
3. Tap 'Enable', and then input a six-digit PIN.  Make sure it is something that is easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess. This PIN will be requested by WhatsApp whenever you need to register your phone number with WhatsApp.
4. Next is to add your email address. This isn’t mandatory, but it is advisable you add an email address because it allows you to recover your account if you forget your PIN.

WhatsApp will periodically ask you for your PIN when you launch the app so that you don’t easily forget it. When a hacker attempts to hack your account, this PIN acts as an extra layer of security, thereby denying him access to it.

Other important Security tips

• Do not give out any sensitive information over the phone. Companies (Banks, online stores, social media, etc) will NEVER ask you to send any of your account details over the phone, through a text message or any other means apart from physical contact or on their approved website or mobile application.
• Do not click on any link, it could be malicious.  Hackers can also use links to steal your login data, therefore it is advisable you do not open links from strangers. If you must open a link and you are not sure what it is, first open it in an incognito/private tab on your browser.