WhatsApp cyberattack: What do I do if my WhatsApp has been hacked?
Steps to recover WhatsApp
In an increasingly common practice, cybercriminals are stealing WhatsApp accounts by associating your number with another phone, and then obtaining the verification key that arrives via SMS.
Given this scenario, it is essential to know how to act and to be clear about the steps to follow if your WhatsApp account has been compromised by malicious actors .
Step 1: Log in to WhatsApp
As a first step, you need to log in to WhatsApp using your phone number in order to re-register with the 6-digit code that you can receive via text message or phone call.
This will automatically remove the person using your account fraudulently. This is because WhatsApp only allows one phone number to be registered at a time .
Step 2: Enter the PIN
In some cases, you may also be asked to enter a two-step verification PIN.
It's very important to clarify that if you don't know your PIN, it's very likely that the person who gained unauthorized access to your account has enabled two-step verification. If so, the only solution is to wait seven days before you can access your account without the two-step verification PIN.
Step 3: Notify your contacts
It is very important, if you suspect that your WhatsApp account has been compromised, to immediately notify your contacts.
This step is key to preventing the person who hacked your account from impersonating you in chats (group or individual) either to gain some financial benefit or to spread malware.
You can also learn more tips in our Podcast:
Protect your accounts and devices before it's too late
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