When it comes to common messaging applications, security breaches are on the rise and WhatsApp is no exception. Bad actors were found to have breached WhatsApp on various occasions and were also accused of exploiting vulnerabilities. Consequently, after several accounts were hacked, leading people to ascertain the reasons why such incidents occur, it is of the utmost importance.
After learning about the indicators of a hacked WhatsApp account, you’ll be more proactive about keeping an eye on your account in order to prevent the worst. WhatsApp users should be cautious when using the app because other WhatsApp accounts have been compromised.
The popular app also serves as a channel through which any piece of data can be compromised if users are not vigilant. Consider modern examples such as the presence of fake data, the hacking of WhatsApp conversations, or the impersonation of someone else’s identity.
Regardless of the type of WhatsApp hack, a variety of methods exist that can be used to detect and address such incidents. This guide seeks to make you aware of the most specific methods for detecting and preventing a WhatsApp hack.
Purpose of the Guide

To prevent a WhatsApp account from being hacked, users need to know the most significant signs of hacking. This guide is designed to inform WhatsApp users about the critical aspects of their account’s security. In addition to specific indications of hacking, the guide details what actions should be taken in the event of suspicious behavior being detected. In this context, the guide serves not only as protection but also as a reactive mechanism after the fact.
In addition, novice and experienced users can use this guide as a reference document. Guide Scope – The guide outlines the most important aspects of a WhatsApp account from a security perspective, with a focus on identifying signs of a hacked account. Readers will benefit from knowing what to pay attention to in order to maintain the security of a WhatsApp account. – The document contains technical security-related jargon. By reading the guide, users should be aware of the need to stay informed on new tactics and procedures for keeping their digital presence secure.
Signs Your WhatsApp Account May Be Hacked
With our ever-increasing reliance on technology, there is a growing concern about our information and messenger accounts’ cybersecurity. It is important to be aware of any unusual activity in your WhatsApp account that can alert you if your account may be compromised. The earlier you detect these things, the less the damage.
Hence, here are some signs that you need to watch out for to be able to notice when your account has been hacked. Any strange activity, like messages you didn’t send, can be an early indicator that your WhatsApp account might be compromised. Not receiving any messages or personal data like media that you sent from your end may not be delivered.
This does not necessarily mean someone hacked into your WhatsApp account. It could be a network issue, but it’s better to be in the know. When a mobile account number is re-registered, it should automatically log out the WhatsApp account.
So, if you need to access one account on a new device, enter two-factor verification, or re-verify your number, it may impact your settings and profile. Another clear sign to check for is if you received a two-factor verification request or need to re-verify your account and it wasn’t you, be sure to report the account for fraud. You should be vigilant and verify your account on WhatsApp regularly.
Unusual Activity on Your Account
When accounts are hacked, there are quite a few signs. The first is when weird things begin to happen that you may have never seen before. It’s easy to notice unusual events if you’re always on the alert. What should happen is having to deal with friends sending you messages you know they wouldn’t usually send. New message notifications may appear and surprise you. All of these could suggest that someone other than you is using your account.
One of the critical dangers is that someone can log in to your account if they have your phone. The service keeps track of all authenticated sessions, and you’ll be notified immediately that someone other than you is signing in if you know how to use it. Something suspicious is happening if someone else logs into the system from a place you’ve never heard of. Despite having their location exposed, someone who claims to be in one city can be found logging in from another.
A person pretending to be a friend, who is supposed to be just about everywhere the user goes, logs in from a different country while they’re visiting another. If you see something like this on your device, act quickly and report the incident. In such instances, it is recommended to take action without delay.
Messages You Didn’t Send or Receive
You should be especially cautious if there are messages in your chats that you did not send. It may be evidence of a hacked account. In the event that you receive a message from an unknown number asking for personal information, be aware that your account has been hacked. If your account has been hacked, bear in mind that the data may be misused, result in a violation of your privacy, and damage your reputation.
To safeguard yourself from potentially damaging repercussions, it is critical to identify any hacking attempts rapidly. Consequently, you should be mindful of your messaging activity and exercise caution toward unrecognized messages. Report problems, specify the matter, and include the involved numbers in the email. In the setting under “Subject,” choose “Recover Account.” This information can then come in handy to the investigating authorities if they begin to probe the hack.
Some users may have many incoming messages in their chats for many reasons—they may help their company with personalized texts, or have their mobile phone number on public websites and forums. This may appear harmless, though unfamiliar contacts must be dealt with with caution at all times.
You must firmly ask the person about his or her identity if they provide deceitful information. Keep an eye on your sent and received texts. Marking “tick marks” for sent messages means that the account has been hacked. The potential for a hacked account exists if there are messages in the text of communications that you did not send.
Changes in Account Settings
One of the telltale signs indicative of a security breach on an account is any unsanctioned changes to its settings. In the case of a hacked account, some of the common settings that attackers modify to compromise account security include changes in privacy settings, linked devices, and added devices to multi-factor authentication, among others.
The settings that get altered depend on the objectives of the hack. For instance, if the attacker’s aim is to prevent the victim from communicating with their contacts, then the attack may involve changes to the ‘last seen’ feature, display picture settings, and privacy settings involving profile photo access. Privacy settings may also include ‘About’ settings, blocked contacts, live location access, group settings, and additional ‘Linked Devices’ options.
A change in the ‘read receipt’ setting is known to alert stalkers when the victim opens their messages, while the ‘fingerprint lock’ and two-step verification alert the victim when a new device has been added to the web session or a new user factor has been set up, respectively. If the hacker is able to clone the victim’s phone, they might apply all these settings to increase the victim’s security alerts regarding the two-step verification, which they must bypass.
Lastly, hackers may also update contacts and block the victim from certain accounts. In order to confirm that the account is still safe and secure from potential hackers, users should periodically check their account settings for any alterations. If changes are found to be unauthorized, then the user can immediately reverse them and change their password.
Having a strong understanding of the app’s functions and settings is crucial to providing security on the user end. Providing information on available account-setting configurations will help potential and active users consistently check, manage, and secure their access devices.
Steps to Secure a Hacked WhatsApp Account
If you’ve noticed suspicious activity in your WhatsApp account and suspect that unauthorized access has been gained, it’s necessary to quickly take action to secure your account. Attackers may use hacked accounts not only for reading their correspondence but also for writing messages and making calls to other users.
First of all, it is necessary to change the password or, if the number is not yet bound and there is a connection with the messenger, disable the account. Without these steps, other actions like logging out on all devices and selecting the “My account is hacked” function would make no sense. To regain access to WhatsApp as soon as possible, follow this guide.
To change the password, you need to start WhatsApp and select “Settings”. In a new tab, you need to select the “Account” section and tap on the “Change password” button. If the user has forgotten their password and the number is not yet tied to the account, they will need to contact the help center. If the number is already tied to your account, disabling two-step verification will work.
After starting WhatsApp, you need to select “Settings”, “Account”, and “Two-step verification”. On the next screen, press the “Disable” button, enter the password, and confirm the action. Then you need to deactivate the account. With threats related to unauthorized access or, even worse, the theft of an account, it may be advisable to take several additional measures to protect your personal data as well. It is advisable to look at the connected devices and block the stolen one.
To do this, select “Settings” in the app, “Linked devices”, and “Log out from all devices”. If, after changing the password, there is still no access to the account, select “Support”, “My account”, and “Someone is using my number to impersonate”.
Change Your Password
WhatsApp hacks are no less than an ordeal. Whether you are hacked or suspect your account is compromised, the first step to take is to change your password. A strong password is the first line of defense that can save your account from unauthorized access.
When doing so, create complex passwords using a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. The longer the password is, the more difficult it gets to crack, which means the more secure you are. You may also use a passphrase, which integrates a mix of letters and numbers without any symbols.
Typically, it can be considered ideal to update your passwords every few months to ensure maximum protection. Even if it is not possible for you to update your passwords regularly, at least update them after they have been revealed. It is significant that you never recycle passwords. That means that as soon as a password is updated, it should not be reused.
It is always safe to keep your passwords unique. It is suggested that you use random password generators to keep unique passwords and manage numerous account credentials all together. Use numerous personalized passwords for various accounts and replicate the procedure each time you want to make a new password.
Enable Two-Step Verification
Nowadays, when it comes to online platforms, there is always an extra layer of security. This ‘two-step verification’ or ‘an extra PIN security layer’ in layman’s terms might be a passcode or a fingerprint scan, depending on what you choose. This is required every time you are trying to access WhatsApp from different devices. In order to protect your account from being compromised, two-step verification must be enabled.
To enable two-step verification on WhatsApp, go to WhatsApp and tap the three dots in the upper right corner. Then select ‘Settings’ and proceed to ‘Account’. After clicking ‘Account’, pick ‘Two-step verification’ and click ‘Enable’. You will be prompted to set up a six-digit PIN and confirm it.
Simply enter your email address below to reset your PIN should you ever forget it. You should also select ‘Next’ and enter it again to verify the PIN. In the following step, choose ‘Save’ to complete the process. When finishing setting up two-step authentication, a pop-up message will appear on your screen, reading, “Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security to your account.
Once enabled, you’ll need to enter your code each time you register your phone number with WhatsApp, and your phone will prompt you to enter a surprise 2FA PIN. It is a plan to deter unauthorized access.”
Log Out of All Devices
Once you have realized that your WhatsApp account has been hacked, you should log out from all the devices you are associated with WhatsApp. Hackers often log in to your account from another device and change the primary device to lock you out of that account. By logging out from all devices, you can log in on your own and also force all devices to be logged out of your account.
This will help the hacker lose access to your account as the system will not allow changes from another device easily. This will help you quickly log in, change your number, and block the other accounts from using WhatsApp to further help your contacts avoid scams and issues sent by the hacker.
To log out of WhatsApp from the linked devices, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Linked devices. Here, you can see the linked devices and should tap on Log out from all computers. You will have to follow the process mentioned earlier, which includes changing your number and even contacting WhatsApp to solve a locked account if the hacker has tried to keep you logged out of your own account. If you have gained access to your own account, you should regularly check the linked devices in WhatsApp to ensure nobody else has received access to your account.
Preventive Measures to Protect Your WhatsApp Account
A hacked WhatsApp account is not an ultimate fate. Various methods can help you figure out if your account has been hacked. However, along with that, it is also essential for your account to be protected. Therefore, in the following paragraphs, you can come across a list of methods to prevent a WhatsApp account from being hacked, subsequently freeing you from further trouble.
These measures are for anyone who is inclined towards safeguarding their WhatsApp account. With the rapid advancements, it has become difficult to entirely prevent hackers from reaching your account. These methods present simple answers, ensuring better safety for non-technical people as well. Use a strong password only for your email account.
In the email account, you can enable two-step validation, and in case of doubt, the password can be easily modified. To identify and halt irregular behaviors, you can configure a behavioral check. For example, using WhatsApp on a laptop can immediately knock you down. Generally, it is a good idea to be skeptical about things.
Whenever you obtain a handful of notifications, a cure on the internet, or a connection, you should be less susceptible and more alert. Don’t expect to watch a major online video with just 30 seconds of activation time. Always keep in mind that a hacker can be the person or organization who will trick you.
Use Strong Passwords
For the safety of your account, it is wise to use a strong password. At least eight characters long, your password should contain a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid obvious information, such as your address, date of birth, or other personal information. Moreover, it’s a poor idea to use common catchphrases and mottos.
To help you remember your password without writing it down, you may want to misspell a word, use a phrase, or create an acronym. We recommend that passwords be changed regularly. Sometimes, even if you believe that your account has not been hacked, hackers have access to this information in ways that you cannot know.
The use of the same password for many accounts is harmful; it is particularly dangerous if a hacker gains access to an account because he or she could gain access to a number of your accounts if he or she tries various passwords. Changing your passwords will help you avoid this unhappy possibility. Users often fall short by not treating their passwords with the respect and attention they deserve.
One of the most fundamental ways to achieve a strong foundation for secure account access is exercising proper password hygiene. Concerning the livelihood of your account, the onus of responsibility rests on the user.
A robust password is defined as a password that is at least twelve characters long and includes a variety of letters, numbers, special characters, and is free from personal information. Favorite sports teams, birth years, last names, and other publicly available or easily guessable information buried within a password offer little to no resistance and should especially be avoided in the context of account protection.
Enable Biometric Authentication
You should go to your WhatsApp account settings and select “Account,” and then tap on “Privacy.” Scroll through your account privacy settings and choose “Use Face ID” or “Use Touch ID” depending on your iPhone model. You will be asked to confirm that you wish to use Touch/Face ID to unlock WhatsApp, after which you will need to follow through the process and supply your fingerprint or facial recognition data.
Once biometric identification has been set up, it will be required to gain access to your WhatsApp account if the application is closed and then reopened. However, WhatsApp will still accept biometric authentication that is less than 48 hours old, technically meaning that Touch/Face ID needs to be used once every 48 hours.
Biometric authentication uses facial recognition or fingerprint scanning that is unique to you as an individual. By setting up biometric authentication on your device, a WhatsApp user will ensure that no one else can access the information in their WhatsApp account.
In order to receive access, the user will be required to offer their facial print or fingerprint every time. Using your face or a fingerprint to sign in to your account instead of a password makes it quite hard for a hacker to take control of it, and it is a lot quicker for you to gain access. Chances are strong that data in your phone does not know what is on WhatsApp.
Be Cautious of Phishing Attempts
The number of phishing attempts that target WhatsApp users is growing. Among the means of instant and mass communication that are responsible for making a message arrive in seconds, we can count various applications and platforms such as WhatsApp. Among the most effective tactics for programming a successful phishing attack is deception.
This can occur through a kind message in support of a national or private company that guarantees a prize or large discount, or through an apparently technical message that touches the most intimate and nerdy strings of a WhatsApp user. In any case, the aim is to mislead the user into sharing their personal information, making them a victim of the hack.
The message can also contain links, forwarded by a contact in the address book, that take you to fake login pages just prepared by hackers. The message is spaced, and the logo is distorted; this is a real symptom of a phishing message.
If you notice one of these elements, proceed with caution. The phone may have been compromised by the malice of a hacker. The link could become a portal to different actions, including the violation of WhatsApp. The employees of the telephone company must not request personal information by message for any reason, nor by telephone: if it happens, then refuse.
To the class of ‘false insiders’ are added messages that, with different levels of messaging, promise gifts or refunds for users. If a message appears to be different from the usual WhatsApp message, do not click on the link; follow the surveys and abandon refined information.
Conclusion
In this guide, indicators of a hacked WhatsApp account have been identified, as well as the possible courses of action that an unauthorized intruder may want to take with the takeover of an account. Furthermore, preventive measures are established to safeguard the account information and notifications of attempts to take over accounts where two-step verification has not been activated.
We propose the future operation of the system as a monitoring service. There, it is necessary to execute the measures and strategies of action distinguishing such takeover attempts from genuine account activity, which is not expected to issue a notification. For future work, we propose to extend the mechanism of import and export of protection data to such a service operated in multiple nodes.
It is an essential skill to recognize when an account has been hacked and to be able to take swift action to scrutinize and, if necessary, prevent criminals from taking any further action with the knowledge obtained from the messages lurking in such an account.
With cybercriminals becoming increasingly sophisticated and creative in their methods of deceiving or coercing unsuspecting victims, everybody with a WhatsApp account should take precautions to improve security and protect their data, including those of their contacts. It is therefore concluded that the best way to understand the knowledge provided here on cybersecurity strategies will require the reader to put the practical tips we provide into action.