Breaking The Code: Understanding And Recovering From WhatsApp Hacks

20 November 2023

As one of the most widely used messaging applications with billions of users, WhatsApp has become a prime target for criminals. They seek to hack the platform and access sensitive information. WhatsApp is fairly prone to people hacking it if you are not careful.

Unfortunately, the popularity of messaging apps has made them vulnerable to these attacks. Scammers often attempt to deceive users into sharing their 6-digit verification code, which they then use to log in to the app. So, is your WhatsApp hacked? Let’s learn what to do when this happens.

Is Your WhatsApp Hacked?

If your verification code falls into the wrong hands, they can easily hack your WhatsApp account. However, if you have made this mistake, there is no need to worry. There is a way to recover your hacked account. Here is how you can ensure your WhatsApp is safe and not hacked.

Inform WhatsApp & Others Contacts

If you suspect that your account on WhatsApp may have been hacked, you should first inform WhatsApp about the issue. You can contact them via email at support@whatsapp.com and make sure to mention “Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account” in the text body.

Additionally, it is important to inform your friends and family members about the security breach so that they are aware and do not fall prey to any objectionable messages from the hacker. Once your account is successfully deactivated, you will be given 30 days to reactivate it. If you fail to reactivate it within the given time, all saved chats or media backed up in the cloud will be at risk of being deleted.

Reactivate WhatsApp

If you receive a duplicate SIM card, you can reactivate your WhatsApp account on a different device. WhatsApp will send you a six-digit code that you will need to enter to gain access to your account. After entering the code, the hacker will be logged out of your account automatically.

However, if you do not receive the duplicate SIM card within the given time frame, delete your WhatsApp account to prevent the perpetrators from misusing your account. Please note that uninstalling and removing WhatsApp are not the same.

To delete your account, you need to contact WhatsApp Web Support. If the hacker activates the 2-step verification process, this will motion WhatsApp into asking you to enter the code. Since you do not know the code that the hacker has used, you will have to wait for seven days to recover your account. The good news is that during this waiting period, the hacker will not have access to your WhatsApp account. As one of the most popular messaging apps with over 2.5 billion users, WhatsApp remains a prime target for regular hackers who attempt to compromise user privacy.

WhatsApp Safety: Signs Of Being Hacked

Here are a few signs you should look for to determine if your WhatsApp account could have been hacked. If you start to see any of the signs and think that your WhatsApp may be hacked, here are a few things you could do to get back your account and prevent future attacks.

If you see new contacts in your account that you don’t remember adding
Spam messages and media sent from your account to old or newly added contacts
An unknown device from an undisclosed location has accessed your WhatsApp account
There are notable changes to your profile details, such as your username and profile picture that you don’t recall making
Someone adds you to new groups that you don’t remember being a part of

If you have misconfigured account and security settings

WhatsApp Hacked How To Protect Your WhatsApp Account?

If you think that someone has hacked your WhatsApp account, you can follow a few steps to recover your account. It will also prevent hackers from accessing it again.

1. Regain Control Of Your WhatsApp Account

Have you ever clicked on a shady link? Did you scan a weird QR code to join a group, or did anything to lose complete access to your account? In this case, you should try to regain access to your WhatsApp account.

2. Sign Out Of Your Account From Any Device

WhatsApp Web no longer requires you to have your phone nearby to use your account. Therefore, if a scammer has linked your WhatsApp account to her WhatsApp Web, they may be using that account without your knowledge. The same applies if you use your account secretly on the WhatsApp desktop app.

Therefore, it is essential to unlink your account from any unknown device you are currently using. To do this, follow these steps:

Open WhatsApp on your main phone, where you just restored your account.
On Android, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then tap Linked Devices.
Scan and remove suspicious devices accessing your account. Tap the device you want to remove and click Sign Out.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > Linked Devices and unlink the unknown device.
Recovering your account and logging out of unauthorized devices may protect your account. This prevents hackers from gaining access again.

Next, notify your contacts of the security breach.

3. Notify Contacts About Security Breaches

After hacking into a victim’s WhatsApp account, attackers often pose as the victim and attempt to make money by demanding money from their contacts, asking for sensitive information that they can misuse later, or sending phishing links to hack other accounts.

Once you have secured your account, it is essential to notify all your contacts about the breach so that they are aware of the situation and do not ignore any suspicious messages. Those who have already responded to the scammer’s message can take action to recover their money (if they’ve already sent it) and keep their sensitive information safe.

4. Block Unknown Contacts And Leave New Groups

If scammers hack your WhatsApp account, they may use it to promote products or attempt to phish your contacts. They can also join random groups and spam them, which can harm your reputation and credibility.

You should check your recent chat boxes with contacts that are unknown and messages you sent to groups. If you notice any suspicious activity, inform the contacts and group members about the breach and block all unknown contacts. You should also leave groups you do not engage in.

To block a contact on WhatsApp, open the contact, tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner, then tap More, and hit Block. After that, tap on Block in the confirmation popup. To leave a group on WhatsApp, go to the group you want to leave, tap on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner, tap More, and hit Exit group. After that, tap on Exit in the confirmation popup.

Secure Your WhatsApp Account

After you’ve successfully recovered your hacked WhatsApp account, it’s important to take measures to prevent any future security breaches. One of the first things you can do is enable two-step verification.

This will help prevent unauthorized access to your account. You can also activate the feature of disappearing messages for conversations that are sensitive. It will protect your data by encrypting cloud backups and customizing your privacy settings. This will make your WhatsApp account more secure. By taking these steps, you can reduce the likelihood of people hacking your WhatsApp account in the future and ensure the protection of your privacy. Don’t let scammers compromise your WhatsApp account.

Wrapping Up

Recovering your hacked WhatsApp account is possible as long as you act fast. Being aware of the steps to take can help you regain control of your account in no time. Stay vigilant to prevent your account from malicious activities that could harm your reputation.

One of the most prevalent methods used by hackers to gain unauthorized access to WhatsApp accounts is through phishing scams. Educating yourself on how these scams work can help you identify and steer clear of them.

So, has someone hacked your WhatsApp? If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

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Top 10 Apps for Team Communication and Remote Work

The COVID-19 Pandemic has forced businesses to adopt new ways of functioning and look at newer models of operation. With employees no longer sitting under the same roof and working from different parts of the world, Remote Working has become the norm. While working remotely can be a safe option during the pandemic, and allow work to continue, it can also be very challenging. Managing different people, processes, assignments, and so on, can lead to a drop in efficiency levels and contribute to decreased productivity. In this article, we are going to discuss the Top 10 Apps, which can help businesses promote effective team communication and remote work. However, before we do that, let us first look at what these Apps mean and represent. Team Communication Apps: Meaning and Definition Team communication apps are commercial -messaging apps, which promote cooperation and coordination, between different team members. They are software, which helps in an interactive workflow, has project statuses, active chat functions, task completions, collaborations, storage cloud, and other important functions that help in working efficiently. One thing, which needs to be pointed out is that Team Communication Apps are not just about texting. If it would be the same, we would not need anything apart from WhatsApp. They are much more than that. Remote Working and Team Communication Apps are a business setup, which presents in one unified dashboard, all or most of the business processes, that you need to get your work done efficiently and productively. List of 10 Best Team Communication and Remote Working Apps 1. AirSend- A relatively newer entrant in the field, AirSend is slowly emerging as one of the most sought after remote working apps. This is because the software boasts of an impressive list of features, is easy to use (great UI and UX), and prioritizes security and cloud storage. You can use AirSend to carry out team collaborations or conversations, organize files as well as for project assessments and tasks. 2. Slack- Ever since Slack was introduced back in 2013, it has become a mainstay of many small businesses. The software is easy to use and intuitive and offers great customer support. However, when compared to newer products and platforms, Slack has been found wanting in terms of its features, efficiency, and security. Newer updates are solving some of the issues. 3. Trello- Many businesses, especially agencies preferred Trello for its task management features. Listing tasks, assigning the same and managing project flows made Trello a popular choice. In recent years Trello has also added chat functions and calling to help in improving remote working capabilities. Trello’s free plans allow many of the features to be used making it a good choice. 4. Zoho- India based Software Company, Zoho’s remote working software, Zoho One is easy to use and integrates a host of functions, including scheduling social media posts and integrating support and chat features all in one platform. However, not all the integrations are up to the mark. The price point also makes it beyond the reach of small businesses who have to look elsewhere. 5. Asana- Another new entrant to the world of remote working apps, Asana is exciting, fun, and trendy to use. It also allows for work management, assigning tasks, and following ups. The custom chat feature between teams assigned on the same task adds to its functionality in a major way. However, the user interface can be tricky and complicated to understand for some employees. 6. Basecamp- Basecamp’s forte lies as being one of the most efficient project management tools or software. The scheduling of work with time frames, adding meetings (just like Zoom), and documentation make it a great remote working app. It also helps higher management with time tracking and can be useful to check and improve efficiency and productivity in organizations. 7. Monday- Quirky as the name suggests, Monday is one of the most interesting and engaging new work management and remote working platforms in the market. With easy log-ins and dedicated graphics to make work exciting, many younger start-ups are gravitating towards using it. However, it still has a long way to go when it comes to competing with AirSend or Trello. 8. Zapier- One product, which has been in the market for a very long time is Zapier. What Zapier has been successful in doing is integrating various apps, including Gmail in one single platform. Zapier is not your typical remote working app; it is like an overarching framework, which helps in bringing together apps like Trello, Asana, and more. However, it is not for first-time users. 9. Zoom- One software, which has made the most impact during COVID-19 on work, is Zoom. In many ways, Zoom has redefined work culture and promoted cross-functional capabilities. In addition to mere Video Calling, Zoom has also started easy chat support to promote instant messaging within and between teams. Zoom’s greatest advantage is its ease of use. 10. Skype- Even though Skype was one of the oldest tools and software, which could be called a remote working tool, lack of innovations and updates have made it fall out of the league of the big boys. Microsoft is trying to revive the old warhorse and we will have to wait and see how far the product is going to improve. However, many of us still use Skype for video calling and messaging. Conclusion Many of the bigger tech organizations including Twitter, Facebook, and Google have announced WFH schedules until June or July 2021. With the pandemic redefining how we work, how we live, and how we party, remote working is going to play a major role in the next few months. Which of the above-mentioned software do you think are the best communication and remote working tools on the market? Let us know in the comments below. Read Also: Tips for Your Next Business Conference 7 Essential Apps for Your Mac in 2020 3 Encryption Trends and How They Make Communication More Secure What Is Integrated Marketing Communication in 2020 [Full Guide]

Effective Contribution of Educational Apps

Every parent wants his or her kid to get the best education possible. We send them to the best schools, enroll them in the best coaching or tuition centers, and ensure that they are happy and contented. We also try to create the best learning atmosphere at home, with separate rooms, dedicated study tables, charts, globes, informative books, encyclopedias, and other necessities. However, as parents, we fail to take into account one very important aspect. Education in general and the educational system in particular, has evolved rapidly. Curriculums are changing, teaching methods are changing and this is reflected in many areas. The advent of smart classrooms in schools and colleges is a case in point. The Benefits of Imparting Knowledge through Technology: In these changing times, and with the advent of digital technology, it is possible for you as a parent to help your child stay ahead of his or her competition in many ways through apps. Children are exposed to electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops at an early age. Science has shown that a child’s brain is most active and curious when he is exposed to newer things, models and electronics. With this in mind, learning through Mobile Applications or Apps, as we fondly refer to them, will help the child absorb learning techniques and grasp educational curriculums faster than traditional models of learning. Why the Traditional School or Classroom System of Education is not enough: A standard class strength comprises of roughly 40 to 50 children, depending on the type of school. A standard study period comprises of 25 to 30 minutes. Imagine yourself in the position of your child who has just been introduced to Algebra in Class 5. Do you think that he will have all his queries and doubts being cleared by the teacher in 25 minutes, given that there would be 40 of his classmates who would be having similar doubts? You would say that Tuitions might be an answer, but private tuitions and tuition centers have turned into commercial enterprises that have their own intentions at heart, namely finances. In such a situation, we have seen numerous children bearing a deep aversion to certain subjects- Mathematics: It is difficult to understand, I am scared of it, or I might just pass. History: It is quite boring, I do not feel engaged, or the teacher is quite dull. The list of subjects can go on and on, but the problems enumerated will surely strike a chord with you and your child or the child of your near and dear ones. A parent would want their child to be confident, autonomous, independent and clear. Sometimes, we just need to empower them and let them find their own way. Why Educational Apps is Beneficial? The Digital Revolution has made life easier for almost everyone, and the education segment is no different. Learning, which used to be a dull and boring system, can now be fun and engaging thanks to mobile apps, which have revolutionized and transformed the education industry. By a simple download on mobile phones or tablets, children can have access to the best quality of education, guided by subject experts, at a time of their convenience. Suppose there is a test tomorrow, and your child does not have access to a tuition teacher. What are you going to do to ease his fear? You might want to download the app and help him clarify his doubts with a virtual teacher. In this article, we look at some of the most pertinent reasons that have transformed the lives of children for the better in education and learning- 1. So many options to choose from: The variety of options to learn on these apps are various and quite diverse. Be it your child’s favourite subject or the most difficult one, the concepts are explained in a fun, engaging and dynamic way to make it easy for them to understand. One of the crucial aims of any online learning platform is to make the child understand concepts and solutions in a fun and healthy manner. This dissolves monotony and encourages children to pick up newer models of learning in a much faster manner. 2. Ease of Access: Knowledge and information, both, are easily available through these apps. Both are available just a click away. The information is visually available on your screen at all times- 24X7! As compared to a classroom, which has strict hours of learning, children can take up virtual learning at any time of the day, or at periods when they are most available and open or receptive, or when they need it the most, like clearing last minute doubts, a night before the examinations. 3. Limitless Learning: It is now possible to gain information anytime anywhere through these learning apps as it will let us learn whatever we want from wherever we are (any place). All the geographical information for geography lovers or all the information on mathematical topics like Real numbers and Probability questions is available with detailed explanation and videos to make it easy to understand and learn from the very place you are at, whether it be home, on your way to your child’s examination, or even the dinner table! 4. Access to best Educational Experts: These educational apps have content and videos explained by educators/teachers. Theypossess years of experience in dealing and nurturing young minds. They are familiar with the latest curriculums and are certified from the highest regulatory bodies. The educators on educational apps are subject experts who use fun and informative ways to get the learning across. This takes away the monotony and helps the child grasp newer concepts better. 5. Engagement rate increases: Watching Videos and listening to audios helps students retain the information for a longer period. In other words, the retention power is increased substantially. Apart from this, apps also engage the student in a better way by showing how the concept works in practice, rather than just reading it, or explaining it theoretically. It has been scientifically proven that visual learning has a higher power of retention than just audio learning. Educational Apps: The Final Word: As we had earlier mentioned, education, like other segments of human lives is being exposed and used for all the right reasons. The future of education is accessibility, ease of advice, engagement and breaking the monotony of traditional learning techniques. Educational Apps are bringing forth this very useful and appropriate change in how we define the future for our children. If we are able to exploit the potential of these educational apps, we can rest assure that our child will be happy with his studies, and this in turn, will help him or her develop a better and more confident personality. Read Also: Read This If You Are Appearing For This Year’s JEE Benefits Of Using Technology To Ace Your Physics Kids Will Get These Benefits If They Learn Coding Cracking The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) – Unwrapping Its Various Layers! Download or Subscribe to the BYJU’S YouTube Channel to explore a new and engaging way of learning.

The most downloaded app in September is China-based TikTok app

Just no ordinary app can surpass top downloads like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube, but the TikTok app isn't just like your regular everyday app, and the recent ranking data released by SensorTower, a leading app intelligence firm, has TikTok as the number one downloaded/installed app in the month of September. The data shows that as at the 29th of September, the app was in the lead of as the most downloaded app with 29.7 percent more than other leading apps. As if that was enough, on the 30th of October, it was revealed that TikTok attained an all-time high value of 42.4 percent more than the other top apps in the ranking charts. The metrics for September downloads of the app shows it had amassed up to about 3.81 million combined downloads on both Google Play store and App Store. This shows its number of downloads had increased by 31 percent when compared to previous months. At the second position was Facebook which amazed a number of 3.53 million downloads. Checking the progress of the app from last year to this year puts things into perspective. The data showed that there was a 237 percent rise in the number of downloads from October 2017 to October 2018. That is an astronomical rise from the lowly 1.13 million downloads the app recorded in October 2017 There is still a long way for Tik Tok to go: Although there has been an increase in the number of downloads of the app, there is still a long way for the app to go in becoming a leading app in download stores. The download charts show that at present, TikTok, is stationed at number four, just a position higher than Messenger, and three ahead of Facebook. However, the app was still behind leading apps, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat who occupied the first three positions respectively. In terms of monthly user engagement, TikTok still has some catching up to do as it currently sits at just 29 percent in terms of usage. This value is a bit short of the high value of user engagement that Facebook (96 percent), Instagram (95 percent), Snapchat(95 percent) and YouTube (95 percent) have. The merger between Musical.ly andTikTok is often taken as part of the reasons why TikTok is on the rise. InChina, TikTok goes by another name "Drouin," and the app claims to have an active global audience of 500 million in over 150 countries around the value of on a monthly basis. But with Instagram reporting over one billion user son a monthly basis, it can be said that TikTok still has a long way to go. TikTok: TikTokWikileaks' entry shows the app was launched by its parent company ByteDance in September 2016. As a prominent short video platform with roots in Asia, the app has gained worldwide coverage, and it is becoming a leading app in its genre. Byte Dance: The parent company of the TikTokapp is a Chinese Internet Technology Company, which upon acquiring musical.ly launched TikTok. As it stands, the company has more than 200 million users, and the August 2018 valuation of the Company, has it at $75 billion. If you want to become Read Also: 5 KPI’s All App Developers Should Track Top 7 Free Instagram Apps To View And Enjoy Your Photos Like A Pro

Breaking The Code: Understanding And Recovering From WhatsApp Hacks

Is Your WhatsApp Hacked?

Inform WhatsApp & Others Contacts

Reactivate WhatsApp

WhatsApp Safety: Signs Of Being Hacked

WhatsApp Hacked How To Protect Your WhatsApp Account?

1. Regain Control Of Your WhatsApp Account

2. Sign Out Of Your Account From Any Device

3. Notify Contacts About Security Breaches

4. Block Unknown Contacts And Leave New Groups

Secure Your WhatsApp Account

Wrapping Up

Your Wrist, Your Chat: Setting Up WhatsApp On Apple Watch

Is WhatsApp Safe: What You Need To Know

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Related

Top 10 Apps for Team Communication and Remote Work

Effective Contribution of Educational Apps

The most downloaded app in September is China-based TikTok app

Breaking The Code: Understanding And Recovering From WhatsApp Hacks

Is Your WhatsApp Hacked?

Inform WhatsApp & Others Contacts

Reactivate WhatsApp

WhatsApp Safety: Signs Of Being Hacked

WhatsApp Hacked How To Protect Your WhatsApp Account?

1. Regain Control Of Your WhatsApp Account

2. Sign Out Of Your Account From Any Device

3. Notify Contacts About Security Breaches

4. Block Unknown Contacts And Leave New Groups

Secure Your WhatsApp Account

Wrapping Up

Share this Article

Your Wrist, Your Chat: Setting Up WhatsApp On Apple Watch

Is WhatsApp Safe: What You Need To Know

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related