WhatsApp Hacked: Understanding Risks and How to Protect Yourself

WhatsApp is well-loved by over two billion users worldwide, with ease of use and high-end security measures empowered by Facebook, making it as popular a communication hub as ever. So, is it really all that strange that cybercriminals want is just to scam you in one way or another?

Today, we’ll take a look at all the usual ways you can have your WhatsApp hacked, how you can easily spot them, and what you should do about it. Also, we’ll introduce you to a uMobix WhatsApp tracker that will make keeping your or your loved ones’ accounts out of trouble even simpler. Ready? Let’s go!

How Hackers Can Break Into Your WhatsApp

Is WhatsApp safe from hackers? We wish. No matter how tight a security system might seem, it can’t be impenetrable. So, if you’re thinking about a group in black hoods that operate from someone’s basement with lots of flashy screens – that’s probably something out of a spy movie.

In reality, all a hacker needs to start getting a huge database is to make sure you fall for some of the oldest tricks in the book, like clicking on a link, getting an app, or whatever. This is how 500 million users have had their data leaked! But if you’re prepared, you’ll know what to look out for and spot the danger right away. So why don’t we show you what exactly hackers do to get into your WhatsApp?

• Playing mind games (aka social engineering): This is the bread-and-butter for hackers. They don’t hack you, they trick you. Nottinghamshire Police reports a rise in scams where criminals hijack WhatsApp accounts, often targeting members of community or religious groups, so getting a message that looks like it’s from your friend or even WhatsApp support, asking for that six-digit verification code you just received, can be hackers go-to. “It’s urgent!” they might say. The moment you hand over that code, bam—they’re inside your account. It’s wild how many people fall for this just because the hacker knows how to sound convincing.
• Fake WhatsApp Web links: WhatsApp Web is super handy, right? But here’s the catch: hackers set up websites that look just like the real WhatsApp Web login. You head there, scan the QR code, thinking it’s legit, and now your login credentials are in their hands. It’s game over if you’re not double-checking the URL because the fake sites are nearly identical to the real deal.
• Spyware: You can be tricked into downloading a sketchy app or clicking on a shady link, and… that’s how spyware gets installed. Once it’s in, they can see your chats, grab your account info, and mess with your WhatsApp.
• The call-forwarding trick: You might dial a certain code to “fix an issue” or something like that and get your calls forwarded to a different number. Then a hacker will trigger a WhatsApp verification call, intercept it, and hijack your account.

Warning Signs Your WhatsApp Account Is Hacked

Sometimes, no matter how prepared you might think you are, the problem will still make itself known – and a hacker can still hijack your account. Luckily, there are different signs you can pinpoint their presence, and we’ll share the most frequently used below:

• Messages you don’t remember sending: If you’re scrolling through your chats and see texts that make you go, “Wait, I didn’t type that”, something’s up. Hackers love using your account to send spammy links or fake messages to your friends. Another clue? Messages you haven’t even looked at are suddenly marked as read.
• Random devices are connected: Check the “Linked Devices” section in your WhatsApp settings. If you spot a device you’ve never even heard of, you’ve got a problem. Hackers can use WhatsApp Web or the desktop app to watch everything you’re saying live.
• Your profile gets a makeover: Opened WhatsApp and noticed your display picture is something strange, or your bio now says, “Crypto king 👑 – DM for tips”? That’s a hacker’s way of turning your profile into a scam magnet. They’re not just messing with your account—they’re impersonating you.
• Your phone’s acting suspicious: If your phone feels like it’s running a marathon (overheating, slowing down, or burning through battery for no reason), it could be because there’s spyware or some shady app running in the background after a hack.
• Friends point out weird behavior: Sometimes, the first heads-up comes from someone else. If your friend texts, “Why are you asking me for my banking info?” or “Did you just send me a link to win free AirPods?”, it’s a pretty good indicator your account’s been compromised.

What to Do If Your WhatsApp Is Hacked

If you made it this far, then we are sorry, but someone did hack into your WhatsApp. Not to worry, though! You still can get it back and even recover from whatever a cybercriminal might have used your account for (this might include sending sorry’s to your contact list, but still). With that being said, here is what you should do in case you know for a fact that your WhatsApp has been compromised:

1. Re-register your account: This will log out anyone with unauthorized access, so get a verification code (via SMS or call) and enter it. Better yet, if you’ve got two-step verification set up, you’ll need to enter your PIN, too.
2. Check for unknown devices: WhatsApp lets you use multiple devices, so if a hacker is using WhatsApp Web, you’ll need to log them out. Go to Settings and look under “Linked Devices”. If you spot anything you don’t recognize, tap on it and hit “Log Out” to boot them off.
3. Let your friends and family know: Remember what we said about sorry’s to your contacts? This is it. Ask your friends and family to ignore any weird messages or requests that come from your account, especially if they’re asking for money or personal info.
4. Check your phone for strange apps or files: There could be some spyware that keeps tabs on you, so go through your app list, delete anything unfamiliar, and run a virus or malware scan just to make sure your phone’s clean.
5. Update your security settings: If you haven’t already, turn on two-step verification to add extra protection via a PIN. Also, limit who can see your profile from your privacy settings and turn on security notifications.
6. Reach out to WhatsApp support: This can be easily done from “Settings”, so do let them know what happened.

Use uMobix WhatsApp Track App to Prevent Any Hacking Attempt

Yes, you might know how to undo the damage inflicted by hackers, but what about preventing it from ever happening in the first place? After all, there’s no better way of making sure your or your loved ones’ account is safe than watching over it whenever the gut feeling strikes again! uMobix is a tracker app that runs in the background without alerting the person being monitored, and it offers simple setup options, including remote tracking for iOS devices through iCloud and a quick installation process for Android devices. Plus, with this WhatsApp online tracker, you can benefit from:

• Real-time message tracking: uMobix lets you track all incoming and outgoing WhatsApp messages in real time, including private chats, group conversations, and media shared. This makes it easy to spot any suspicious activity right away.
• Access to deleted messages: Even if messages are deleted, uMobix can recover them. This way, you don’t miss out on important details and can uncover any hidden or malicious behavior.
• Monitoring media files: With uMobix, you can view all media sent and received on WhatsApp – photos, videos, and audio files. This helps you catch any harmful or inappropriate content.
• Tracking WhatsApp groups: WhatsApp chat tracker gives you access to group messages, so you can keep an eye on group conversations for any strange or harmful interactions.
• WhatsApp last seen tracker: The app will let you see if WhatsApp is being used now or when it was last used. You will know when the app was opened and closed and the duration of use in seconds.
• Location tracking: You can track the exact location shared in WhatsApp chats, helping you spot any suspicious or unauthorized location-based activities.

Apart from the 40+ features uMobix offers, it has a spy app detector to expose any malware apps that might appear on the target device. In case you detect any suspicious activity, you can block WhatsApp or any other app, block the device, or block WiFi to stop any unwanted actions instantly and regain access to the account.

Conclusion

Having a WhatsApp account hacked is something we all can happily live without, but life can surely be uncooperative in that regard. Instead, solid preparation is your best bet! Knowing the most common ways that hackers use to get your data lets you easily avoid them, and learning how to undo the damage and reclaim your account can save you a headache in the future. And in case you want to take your WhatsApp’s security a step further, think about getting uMobix’s WhatsApp tracker – it lets you monitor your family and keep them out of danger, too.