The standard version of Messenger WhatsApp should not be used in SMEs for security reasons and data protection. However, many employees do it out of convenience. But be careful with transferred accounts! Avast experts advise.
Everyone knows it, very many have it: the WhatsApp messenger. In addition to entertaining chats with friends and colleagues, completely different activities are possible via the app. Criminals have been using the popular program for several years to take over entire accounts from unsuspecting users.
WhatsApp account takeover by a trick
The trick: hackers are able to take over someone else's account using the verification code that WhatsApp users can request for two-step verification. The prerequisite for this is that someone carelessly shares their code with a third party. Then the takeover of the account begins and the criminal can use his fraudulent method to attack the victim's entire address book while they think they are dealing with a trusted person.
"Regardless of what abuse occurs, the most important lesson is: Never share your personal code via WhatsApp," advises Oliver Kunzmann, security expert and sales engineer manager at Avast. "In addition, everyone who no longer has access to their account should log into WhatsApp again with their phone number."
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About Avast Avast (LSE: AVST), a FTSE 100 company, is a leading global provider of digital security and privacy products. Avast has over 400 million online users and offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats from the Internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is one of the most advanced in the world, using technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast's digital security products for mobile, PC or Mac have been top-rated and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and other test institutes.