Having your WhatsApp hacked is bad news. But there is an easy way to prevent someone from stealing your account, and it will take you three minutes to set it up.
It’s a simple PIN code that you use to verify it’s you logging into your WhatsApp account.
On Android, go to Settings, then Account and tap on Two-step verification.
On Apple, you tap on your profile picture at the bottom right to see your profile, then tap Account and Two-step verification.
Please do it now.
WhatsApp has good security features – if you turn them on. This two-step verification process is what WhatsApp calls “trusted devices”. By enabling the PIN code, you’ve made your phone a ‘trusted device’. If you use WhatsApp on a laptop or tablet, it will ask you to make those trusted devices. That is usually by showing a QR code to log you into that device. If your phone gets stolen, you can remove it from the trusted device list using the same settings.
Passkeys are just safer
If you really want to go all-in with security, then set up a passkey for WhatsApp. While you’re about it, do it for all your major services. Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon all offer passkeys, which are a much more secure way of logging in.
Much like a card in your Apple Pay or Google Wallet doesn’t need you to put in the PIN code when you use it (depending on your settings). In that case, the PIN code is replaced with your phone’s passcode, or more likely a fingerprint or a face scan.
Instead of putting in a username and password, you just use a passkey – which you access in much the same way as you do a smartphone wallet. If you have a laptop with a fingerprint reader, you can make that a trusted device too.
What to do if someone texts you asking for money?
Ignore it. It’s probably a scam.
It’s the same as a so-called bank calling to tell you you’ve been hacked and politely asking you for the never-to-be-given-out OTP. These are not legitimate anymore. Please don’t fall for these tricks.
But do tell your friend that they have been hacked, please.
Then send them a link to this article so they can prevent it from happening again.
