Advisory
30 NOV 2022
BACKGROUND
WhatsApp is one of the most common communication methods used in our country. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take precautionary measures to secure your account. Compromised WhatsApp accounts may lead to risks such as data leakage and identity theft, among others.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Enable ‘Two-Step Verification’ to add more security to your account.
- Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification
- Do not share any confidential information via WhatsApp, including passwords, identification documents, official letters, job applications, documents, bank statements, and credit card details.
- Be cautious of calls and messages from unknown numbers. If a request seems strange, verify the authenticity of the message by directly contacting the sender. Don’t feel pressured to respond or react immediately.
- Never open suspicious links as they may lead to malicious files or phishing websites.
- Do not respond to any messages requesting a One-Time PIN (OTP) or password. This message would most likely be from someone who is trying to gain control of your account or access to your personal information.
- Adjust your privacy settings to limit who can see when you’re online, your profile photo, status updates, or add you to groups.
- Settings > Privacy
- If your WhatsApp account has been hijacked, immediately inform your family, friends, and colleagues that your account has been compromised.
