While you're fast asleep, hackers could be working in the background to gain access to your WhatsApp account. This worrying finding comes directly from the Swiss National Center for Cybersecurity (NCSC). How exactly these hackers operate, what they do with the stolen accounts and how you can protect yourself is explained in detail in this article.

The mechanics of the night hack

It all starts with a call – or rather many calls. Some victims have reported receiving calls from unknown numbers at night. The hackers used these calls to gain access to the affected person's WhatsApp account.

How hackers abuse your WhatsApp number

The cybercriminals start by impersonating the victim's phone number in WhatsApp as their own. This will give them the opportunity to reset the account. WhatsApp then offers to send a PIN code by email or to read out this code over a call.

The trick with the answering machine

The critical moment comes when the option of calling is chosen. If the call is not answered, it often ends up on an answering machine. In many cases, smartphone users have never changed their answering machine password, which means that the default password is often active - for example, the last four digits of the phone number. It is precisely this security deficiency that hackers take advantage of.

Account security and the attack on your contacts

Once the hackers have access to the account, they immediately activate two-factor authentication. This makes it significantly more difficult for the victim to get the account back. But that is often just the beginning. With the hacked account in their possession, the criminals then try to access the accounts from the victim's friends list.

How do I protect myself from this hack?

It's important that you take proactive steps to protect your WhatsApp account:

  1. Change your answering machine password. Don't rely on default passwords.
  2. Enable two-factor authentication for your WhatsApp account. This gives you an extra layer of security.
  3. Be careful when giving out your phone number and do not click on suspicious links in messages.

Also read: Facebook: Fraud behind the shocking video

Source:

NCSC


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