WhatsApp is one of the most widely used instant messaging applications today. Serving under the umbrella of Meta (formerly Facebook), the platform is widely used in Turkey as well as all over the world. The application that almost everyone, from seven to seventy, enters at least once a day; It brings together many more features such as voice and video calls, in addition to the message service, which is its main function.
Addressing more than 2 billion monthly users worldwide, WhatsApp, of course, has become a channel that fraudsters and hackers frequently resort to to deceive their victims. Dangerous hackers, who are constantly looking for new ways for this, usually manage to capture the data of the other party by proceeding through simple vulnerabilities. However, as a conscious user, it is of course possible to pay attention to some issues and keep your account safe. In this content, we have listed the items you should pay attention to about cyber security on WhatsApp.
New features that WhatsApp will gain in 2022
Do not open all the links in front of you
Many WhatsApp users who have been hurt by the data leak are making this common mistake. To give an example, a person you know and truly trust sent you a campaign link on WhatsApp. Just because you know the person who sent the message does not mean that the message is trustworthy. Because the possibility that the other party may have been hacked is quite strong.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell at a glance whether the incoming connection is reliable or not. But for the most part, these messages reveal themselves at first glance. For this, you can take a careful look at the preview image, title and URL. If there really is a security vulnerability, when you click on the link, you will become a victim of a scam. This time, the same link will be sent to your friends from your account without realizing it, and this dangerous link will continue to circulate from hand to hand. So the best solution would be to take a step back against connections you don’t really trust.
Do not share the verification code with others
While this traditional cybersecurity mistake may seem quite simple, it still traps many people. Eset Security Specialist Jake Moore summarizes this common mistake:
“One day, when my friend went to the kitchen to make coffee, I noticed that he had left his phone on the table. I downloaded WhatsApp on my newly bought smartphone and wanted to log in with my friend’s phone number. My friend’s phone received a verification code. I entered the code I received on my phone. And the result… I am now in control of my friend’s account!”
Moore warns internet users against such security errors in social environments. To avoid making a similar mistake, according to Moore, you should always carry your smartphone with you. However, this error is unfortunately not limited to physical environments only. Another common mistake made on the same issue mostly happens to older people.
Hackers who dial a random number while logging into WhatsApp; then it sends a message to the owner of the number to get the verification code. They say that the code they need to enter WhatsApp accidentally went to another number, and they take advantage of the other party’s goodwill and can take the code and take over their accounts. In order not to make such a mistake, never share the verification codes you receive as SMS with others.
Update WhatsApp regularly
Meta frequently sends new updates to WhatsApp because it makes security improvements as well as innovations. If you have a habit of delaying these updates, you should abandon it as soon as possible. Although messages are encrypted on the platform, hackers are constantly looking for various ways to penetrate it. You can place an order for your app to automatically update so you don’t overlook them.