"WhatsApp" issues guidelines to protect accounts from hacking attempts

Meta has issued security guidelines for WhatsApp users to counter the rise in digital fraud attempts, recommending enabling two-step verification and linking an email to the account, with warnings against sharing verification codes or clicking on suspicious links.

Meta has issued warnings and security guidelines for WhatsApp users amid a rise in digital fraud attempts targeting personal accounts through identity theft and fake messages. The company recommended enabling the built-in two-step verification feature as an additional means of protecting accounts from takeover attempts, as it allows creating an extra secret code that prevents account re-registration even if another party obtains the verification code sent via text messages. WhatsApp also allows linking the account to a trusted email address, helping users regain access to their account if they forget the two-step verification code, along with providing security alerts when an account is attempted to be registered or used from a new device. The guidelines stressed the importance of not sharing verification codes with anyone, even if receiving messages or calls claiming to need them, as well as caution against suspicious links and messages that may be used in fraud or data theft operations. The platform continues to develop automatic protection systems to monitor suspicious links and activities and limit fraudsters' attempts to target users and groups.