whatsapp It is the most used messaging app in the world. The service currently has over 2 billion monthly active users, a figure that makes it a real sweet spot for hackers.
The most common way hackers steal WhatsApp user accounts is through a scam called SIM swapping. This old friend has been a gateway into our phones for people who love other things for years, but now it’s trendier than ever.
We’re going to explain to you what it is, what consequences it has, and what you can do to avoid falling victim to this type of scam.
What is SIM card replacement?
This scam can be carried out in many ways, but usually someone pretends to be us and contacts our mobile operator. It is possible that they have previously received a copy of our identity document and personal data (usually they impersonate government agencies or banking institutions).
Fraudsters will claim that they have lost their phone and need a duplicate of our SIM card. If the operator falls into the trap, hackers will have access to our phone, and therefore to a large number of services, including WhatsApp.
How can they impersonate me?
The answer to this question is simple and, to put it mildly, alarming. And today our phone number is linked to many services, which we also sometimes access using a two-factor verification system using SMS messages that come to the phone.
WhatsApp, Twitter, Telegram, Instagram, email clients, digital payment systems or banking applications are some of the most sensitive platforms that can be susceptible to SIM card swapping.
There’s no concrete way to know if we’ve fallen victim to SIM swapping before it’s too late, but experts say that when it happens, our phone goes offline for a few minutes.
When the line is restored, we may start receiving SMS messages about recovering application passwords. It could also be that an impostor sent messages on WhatsApp pretending to be us.
This can cause serious problems. For example, in a specific case reported by El País, a user whose identity was stolen on WhatsApp could be accused of trying to extort his contacts. And, posing as him, the pirate asked his acquaintances to post bail, because they were going to capture him. Fortunately, everything was resolved without incident.
How to Strengthen Security on WhatsApp
If you notice an unusual line drop, it’s best to quickly contact your telephone provider and check if everything is ok.
It is also advisable not to use passwords related to personal information and, in the case of WhatsApp, to use privacy settings that hide the most sensitive information. It is expected that in the future WhatsApp will hide our phone number from contacts that we have not added to the agenda, but for now this is not possible.
Finally, remember to always avoid sending sensitive information such as account numbers, bank statements or personal details in WhatsApp chats, especially in groups with a large number of users.
Source: Digital Trends
