There is no sure way to check if the messenger is following us, but there are a few signs that may raise suspicion. This was told by Maria Fesenko, an information security specialist from the Security Code company. Here are some of these signs:
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The app starts freezing or restarting on its own.
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You hear interference and extraneous noises during calls (unless the problem is related to a poor Internet connection).
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Your internet traffic suddenly increases for no apparent reason.
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The charging battery of your device gets very hot.
WhatsApp has repeatedly fallen into various scandals, from reading user correspondence to transferring data to private services. Many celebrities in the IT industry, such as Pavel Durov and Elon Musk, find this messenger unreliable, and Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, is often accused of spying on users in favor of the US government.
There is a possibility that both the company itself and someone else is listening to you. In the first case, it is almost impossible to detect and prevent surveillance. Even if you block access to the microphone, there is no guarantee that it will not be used for surround sound recording. In the latter case, loved ones or hackers may be to blame. When it comes to hackers, they often install spyware through phishing pages. This happens when a user clicks on a link and automatically downloads spyware or performs certain actions that result in its installation.
The best way to prevent possible eavesdropping is to uninstall the app and minimize the risk of sensitive data being leaked. Also, the less permissions you give an app (like access to location or microphone) and the less sensitive information you send in private messages, the better.
And one more thing: if special services or experienced hackers are interested in you, then it is almost impossible to detect surveillance, – concluded Maria Fesenko.
WhatsApp is an application from Meta* that allows you to send and receive messages, calls, photos, videos, documents and voice messages.
- Meta activity (social networks Facebook and Instagram) banned in Russia for extremism
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
