Throughout the year, hackers work tirelessly to gain access to your personal data. If you use WhatsApp, you have to be very careful at the moment: a new scam has been in full swing for some time. This hoax is already circulating widely on the platform. It is a virus named “WhatsApp code” which has the ability to lock the user’s account and subsequently deliver your confidential information, photos and videos to hackers, as explained by the Mediafax group. Find out quickly how this new scam works so you don’t fall victim to it.
WhatsApp – Source: spm
What is this scam that is sweeping WhatsApp?
Since its advent, the WhatsApp application has often been the target of malicious people and scams of all kinds. But don’t take this one lightly. Here’s how this new scam works: It’s a message with a six-digit code that many users receive out of the blue. In truth, it is mostly a quick and easy way for hackers to take control of chat and your conversations with your contacts.
Concretely, when you receive this message, you see nothing but fire because it seems to come from WhatsApp support and it looks very authentic. The scam has been perfectly well thought out since, even if it is an unknown number, in order to make the hoax very credible, the sender will have the profile picture of a person you know. “Hello, I sent you a code by mistake, could you resend it to me? is the message you will read first. A perfectly harmless and believable phrase. It’s hard to suspect that a hacker is hiding behind this misleading message. And if you get into his game, the second part of the scam begins.
Once you return this code, the hacker will immediately be able to control your application: from then on, you will no longer have access to WhatsApp or your conversations. Worse still, he will also have access to online photos, videos, contacts and groups.
In truth, this hoax does not date from today. But the pirates have brought it up to date to take advantage of the end of the year holidays. Also, experts strongly advise you to immediately delete this message as soon as you receive it and block this unknown number. In case it is too late and you have been the victim of this scam, there is still a way to recover your WhatsApp account. You will then have to request a new code, which must be entered together with the telephone number. But, since the hacker has already done his job and has probably changed the profile number, you will then be forced to contact WhatsApp directly to find a solution. Note that in some extreme cases, you will be forced to deactivate your account. That’s why, if you want to avoid all this inconvenience, it would be much better to completely ignore all suspicious messages from unknown numbers on WhatsApp.
Instagram – Source: spm
Like the WhatsApp platform, a new scam method is also wreaking havoc on the Instagram social network. Specialists of the National Directorate of Cybersecurity draw attention to a campaign created by hackers to greatly harm users. They warn all people who regularly use Instagram not to access any links they receive via email, text or other social networks.
“Beware of text messages, e-mails or messages received on social networks from unknown sources or short numbers, which ask to log in to the Instagram account or to reset the password (…). The text may appear genuine, as the attackers attempt to fake the fact that the message is delivered by the social network itself. However, Instagram does not use this method to reset your password and will never send SMS to do so. The only way Instagram communicates is through official emails or by sending a notification directly from the app. Accessing the link from the mobile device on which you are authenticated in the Instagram app may result in losing access to the account. The attackers thus having the possibility of changing the password“, indicates the representative of the DNSC.
Take this alert seriously and arm yourself with vigilance so as not to fall into the trap of these pirates.
Read also Have you been blocked on WhatsApp and you don’t know how to communicate with your contact? This is the surefire trick you need
Via SPM
