Amongst other instant messaging apps, WhatsApp is the most used. The record has it that over 1.5 billion people in the world are active users of the app.
Some of these persons may not have much interest in other social media platforms or instant messaging apps for reasons personal to them. What could these reasons be?
On the surface, the reasons might not be farfetched; it's easy to navigate, it allows file sharing, voice, and video calls, voice messaging, etc. Well, the developers of WhatsApp built the instant messaging app to ensure the security is impenetrable.
WhatsApp is built with a security technology known as end-to-end encryption. This means that no third party could have access to a conversation without the user’s indulgence, not even WhatsApp itself, amazing right?
The instant messaging app is indeed helpful for seamless communication, but at the same time puts users at the risk of being spied on or at worst, defrauded or harmed.
Even with the security features developed to protect the security and privacy of users, hackers can still gain access. This article has been written to show you how your account can be hacked on Whatsapp and how to keep it protected.
Why Hack Someone's WhatsApp Accounts?
Someone might wonder why anyone would want to hack someone else's WhatsApp accounts. Well, different people have different bucket-full of reasons to hack a WhatsApp account.
As you already know, WhatsApp is an instant messaging app for everyone, and when they say ‘everyone’, they mean literally everyone.
This also, unfortunately, includes criminals, pedophiles, fraudsters, and a whole lot of other sinister-intentional-minded persons. So, the reasons why one may want to hack a WhatsApp account are diverse. Let us have a look at the few popular ones.
-
Parental Control
We are in the digital age and it will not be fair if we do not let our kids learn and interact with technology. However, in order to make sure that they are consuming the right content, there is a need to monitor their activities. This could be achieved by spying on their activities on WhatsApp, which can be possible by hacking.
While this might seem like infringing on the kids’ freedom to explore, it is in their best interest to have their parents monitor them. This is to ensure that they do not become victims of online predators, who come in various forms such as pedophiles, fraudsters, and sinister-minded persons.
-
To be Ahead of a Perceived Stalker
If you feel you are being followed or stalked on WhatsApp, one sure way of getting this poke nose out of your way is hacking their account.
That way, you stay ahead of the game and are in charge of things henceforth. You could later find out who they are and what they are up to, get them arrested or something; anything to make them stop breathing down your neck. Cool right?
So, you see that whilst some persons may be up to no good, you could have a good reason to hack someone’s WhatsApp account.
-
To Spy on a Lover
In a relationship where one partner suspects infidelity, hacking their WhatsApp account might come in handy for clarifications. That way, you could read the conversations between them and their contact lists. This could help you tell if there is any infidelity on the part of your partner.
-
To Prove a Point
Sometimes friends put themselves up for a challenge for different reasons such as ascertaining their strength and know-how, or basically just for fun. Although you’d be better off experimenting with a pseudo or useless account, in order to minimize harm or collateral damage.
WhatsApp Hacking: The 3 Popular Methods and Their Steps
Hackers have revealed a number of ways to hack a WhatsApp account, which we will be discussing in this part of this article.
For now, there are 3 methods through which a WhatsApp account can be hacked by anyone. These include using phone numbers, WhatsApp web, or using a spying app such as mSpy.
Using the Phone Number Method
This hacking method is one of the easiest, if not the easiest. Although this method can only work if you have access to your target’s phone.
This is important because, at some point in the hacking process, you would have to provide a verification that will be sent to your victim’s mobile phone code, which can only be accessed if you have access to your victim’s phone.
This method does not require a high level of expertise, so all you have to do is promptly follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Download a new WhatsApp app.
Step 2: On the phone number section during registration, enter your target’s phone number and continue. As pointed out earlier, this method requires you to have access to your victim’s mobile phone to enter the verification code on your newly downloaded WhatsApp to complete the process.
Step 3: Next, you will be asked to input the 6-digit code you just received on your victim’s phone number to continue. Do just that and proceed.
Step 4: After the above has been done. You now have access to your target’s WhatsApp account. You could do what you may with; read conversations, listen to voice messages, etc.
However, there’s a little flaw associated with this method; your target gets a notification about your login into their account, and this arouses suspicion. When they get this notification, they would log you out by logging in, and might even activate their Two-Step Verification to further secure their account and lock you out completely.
This is supposed to be a spy on your target’s account, so it will be advisable that you leave them with no clue as to who is behind either attempted hacking or successful hacking. Failure to heed this might lead to a strained relationship with your target (if they know you), or at worst, get you into trouble.
Using Call Forwarding Trick:
This trick works with call forwarding. It requires you to dial a certain code on your target’s mobile device to get the trick working. This code usually begins with a star (*) or a hash (#).
It usually comes in this format **67*10 digit number, the call. The 10 digits are your mobile number. When you do this on your target’s mobile device, you have successfully forwarded their calls to your mobile phone.
Now when a call enters their phone while they are on another call, the new call will be diverted to your phone instead. The same thing happens when your target busies their calls. Back to the trick. Now after dialing that code up there on their phone, call them. Try to keep them on the call for a while and go to your WhatsApp to begin your registration.
On your WhatsApp, choose the voice call option to get OTP, after entering your target’s phone number. Recall that you are still with them on the phone and they will receive a new call from WhatsApp about the OTP you just requested, but since they are still busy with you on the call (call waiting), the call will be forwarded to your phone.
Then you write down the OTP code being called out over the phone by WhatsApp. You may have to get a second phone for this to work; the first phone is the one you are calling them with and the second is the one you will use to complete your hacking process.
Using Mspy
Mspy is a WhatsApp hacking app that lets you hack a WhatsApp account without exactly downloading any software. This app is available for Android and iOS users.
This means that this app is obtainable whether you are an android or iPhone user. Now, without further ado, let us dive into how to hack a WhatsApp account using the Mspy app.
Step 1: Type mspy.com into the address bar of any browser of your choice on your mobile device.
Step 2: Register if you have not done that before now, and log in with your details. If you already have an account, just proceed to log in using your details.
Step 3: Select your preferred language and click on the Proceed
Step 4: The next page shows Android and iOS. Select the operating system of your target’s mobile device you want to monitor.
Step 5: On the next page, check the Yes box that confirms that you have access to your target’s mobile phone and proceed.
Step 6: You will be provided with the names of manufacturers of mobile phones. Here, you have to select the manufacturer of your target’s mobile phone, then click
Step 7: Select the version of your android and disable Play Protect by:
Step 8: Visiting the Google Play Store
Step 9: Click on your picture (Profile) as seen in the image below
Step 10: It will bring out a number of options. Click on the Play Protect
Step 11: When the page comes up, tap the Settings icon on the top right corner of your screen, and disable the Scan Apps with Play Protect as shown in the image below.
Step 12: Enter b55y.net on the device of your target.
Step 13: Whatever shape shows up on the captcha, draw it on your screen
Step 14: Click Download and then ‘OK’
Step 15: Open Download, open the app, and enable “Allow Background Data Usage” and “Hide the App Icon”
Step 16: It will take Mspy a while to record the activities of your target and send it to server for you to be able to access. So, what you have to do is be patient while the app does its thing.
Step 17: When the above is done, go to your dashboard and click on the WhatsApp icon amongst the icons listed on the left side of your screen. Here, you will find the WhatsApp activities of your victim.
How to Tell That You’ve Been Hacked
When someone is attempting or has already hacked your WhatsApp account, there are a number of tell-tale signs. You need to be familiar with these signs; otherwise, you stand a chance to lose your Whatsapp account. The followings are signs that your account may have been hacked:
-
Strange Contacts:
WhatsApp developers have made your contacts easier to access when you change your phone number by importing your contact list into your new number. It is no different in the case of a hack; you begin to see contacts that are not yours.
-
Strange Messages:
When a hacker has access to your contact list, he invariably could send messages to your contacts, or even impersonate you. Therefore, when you begin to see messages you did not send or conversations you never had, then you should know someone is up to no good.
-
Negative Messages from WhatsApp:
You may begin to get messages from WhatsApp about a change in your account. When you receive messages like this, it signifies that your WhatsApp account is at stake, and you may never recover it if you do not take action immediately.
What to do when Your Account Is Hacked
In an unfortunate situation where your account has been compromised or hacked, here few things you can do to salvage your WhatsApp account.
-
Keep Calm
The first instinct of humans in the face of a seemingly helpless situation is panic. In the event of a WhatsApp hack, this instinct will only make things worse because panic will take the better chunk of the time you could have used to find a solution. Do not jump into panic when you realize that your account has been hacked.
-
Inform Your Contacts
In the face of a hack, attackers will like to take advantage of the situation to exploit you completely. They do this by sending messages to your contacts pretending to be you. This information could be your bank details, or other sensitive information, which will aid their criminal intentions. When you inform your contact about the hack and warn them against sharing anything with the impersonator, then you are ahead of the game.
-
Ignore Verification Messages:
When you begin to get verification codes for your WhatsApp, which you never took action for, it is best to assume you never saw the messages. From the methods of hacking a WhatsApp account explained so far in this article, it is clear that your attacker has no other hacking ammunition in his arsenal besides getting the verification code from you. He will only be able to hack the account if you send him the code, otherwise, he is helpless.
-
Avoid Logging Out and In
Do not log out and log in when you are getting verification messages. WhatsApp lets you get verifications so many times, and it takes 12 hours to get another verification code when you have exhausted the number of times to get the codes. Your attacker is very smart; so what they would do is exhaust all your verification code attempts so that you would have to wait for 12 hours to get a new one.
As a hacker, he will look for a means to get the code. For you, it will be unfortunate if you log out of your WhatsApp during this period, because once he gets the code, he will lock you out completely without any hope of recovering your account. So, do not log out.
How to prevent Being Hacked
1. Activate Two-Step Verification:
Over the years, Meta (The parent company of WhatsApp), has recorded a large number of losses of accounts due to Two Factor Authentication. This has been a menace since the introduction of the extra security later. Users are logged and completely kicked out, either by hackers or by their own actions that required them to provide the code, to enable them to log back in.
Some users who did not have access to their phone numbers anymore were bound to lose their accounts without any solution in sight. WhatsApp on the other hand, which also has the extra security layer feature, has a backup email feature in the event of a hack or account loss.
So, while activating the Two-Step Verification on WhatsApp, it is advisable to provide an email that will serve as a backup in case you do not have access to your account anymore. This will prevent permanent loss of account. Below is how to set up Two-Step verification.
Step 1: Open your WhatsApp
Step 2: Tap the three dots on the top right corner of your screen
Step 3: Tap Settings
Step 4: Tap Account
Step 5: Tap Two-Step Verification (The third option)
Step 6: On the bottom of your screen, click Enable
Step 7: Then enter any 6 digits number of your choice (this is your PIN)
Step 8: Confirm your PIN by re-entering it
Step 9: Lastly, enter your email (your backup)
2. Set Up a PIN:
Your WhatsApp PIN is a 6 digits number that could help prevent loss of account or disrupt a hacking process. This PIN is required to set up your Two-Step Verification. You can refer to the above explanation to set up your PIN. Your PIN is very sensitive security material; do not share it with anyone.
3. Set Up a Backup Email:
As explained earlier, this backup email will give you an edge over your attacker, as they may not be able to carry out the hack successfully. It also helps you recover your account in the case you forgot any of your details which puts your account at stake. To set up this back up email, please refer to the Two-Step Verification set-up above.
How to Recover a Hacked Account
To be able to recover your account, you have to have activated the Two-Step Verification prior. The WhatsApp account recovery process might seem like what is difficult to do, but with the instructions below, it will be a walk in the park for you.
-
Login Back Into Your Account:
While trying to do so, you will get an SMS from WhatsApp that contains your 6 digits code, which WhatsApp reads and logs you in automatically. When you are logged in, your attacker is logged out. Now it’s time to solidify your security by adding the Two-Step Verification explained earlier.
In the event your attacker has already activated the Two-Step Verification before you, then you will have to wait for 7days to try the recovery process again. The good thing is during this period, your attacker will not have access to your account anymore because they will be logged out during the process of your trying to log in. And after 7days, you will have an edge because you have your phone number and your backup email available in case anything goes wrong again.
You maybe like to read,
Conclusion
This article is intended to show you how a WhatsApp account can be hacked, and does not outrightly encourage hacking an account. It is regarded as a crime to compromise the social account of someone for whatever reasons. So, if you must hack a WhatsApp account, be sure to have a good understanding of the laws that protect the rights of social media users in your country.
It is important to know because you might be at the receiving end when your victim files a complaint against you if you are ignorant. Although it makes no difference when you have an understanding of these laws and still indulge in the hack; you could still be sued anyway, but you are better off knowing the consequences than not.
