Experts are afraid that users of the popular social media application, WhatsApp, will become easy victims of ongoing verification scam which targets sensitive data.
Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has grown to become one of the most used social media platforms in the World. After being acquired by Facebook in 2014, its numbers increased, and now, over two billion users make use of WhatsApp every month.
Hackers have introduced a new verification scam which put the billions of WhatsApp users at risk. It is a clever hack which is why experts fear that a lot of users will fall for it.
Usually, the hackers pose as friends and try to convince you to send them your login code. Other times they pose as the WhatsApp Technical Team using the WhatsApp logo so they look legit enough. These hackers send messages to their targets, telling them that they need to verify their WhatsApp account.
The WhatsApp verification scam not only put users at risk of losing their personal details, but they can also lose their entire if they give out their login code. With the login code, the hackers will be able to send and read messages with the victims’ accounts.
Considering how frequent WhatsApp requires updating, most users will be unsuspicious of these messages. Users have been advised against falling victims to such scam as the WhatsApp Technical Team do not message users on the WhatsApp platform.
This was made known via a Whatsapp blog, WABetaInfo. They dismissed the messages as fake and if WhatsApp were to message users, there will be a green verified indicator for authenticity. Furthermore, the blog made it clear that never will WhatsApp ask for user login codes or personal data.
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How WhatsApp users can protect themselves against the verification scam
Users should note that the WhatsApp login code is private and shouldn’t be shared with any third-party; no matter who requests for it. Furthermore, they can make use of the 2-Factor authentication option featured in WhatsApp settings. So, if they do give out their login code, the hackers would still need to bypass a second security protocol before getting access to their accounts.
