When your WhatsApp messages and calls are safe, there are many bad people trying to scam, manipulate and harass people on WhatsApp, as WhatsApp is our convenient platform for sending instant messages, calls and even video calls these days. Since you can call contacts, send messages and video calls from one platform it makes things a lot easier for us.
Also, since WhatsApp calls and chats are end-to-end encrypted, you don’t have to worry about anyone intercepting your messages or calls on WhatsApp or Facebook (in case you didn’t think that Facebook owns WhatsApp and could spy on you), it seems like a fantasy.
To limit people who try to steal and manipulate accounts, and increase the security of your accounts from people like this, here are some simple steps you can follow –
WhatsApp insurance
1. Make sure that only your contacts can see your profile picture
WhatsApp gives you the option to hide your profile picture from people who are not in your contacts by following the steps below.
Go to Settings > tap Account > tap Privacy.
You will see your Profile Picture and WhatsApp allows you to change who can see your profile picture and you can choose between – Everyone, Nobody or My Contacts.
It’s best to select either Nobody or My Contacts just to be safe.
2. Delete people you know you won’t “chat” with
You may have to save a lot of numbers in your phone book that you don’t intend to talk to on WhatsApp either, like a store you call and order things from, or a delivery/courier service agent who needed help sending the location to him one time and you had to add them to your contact list for that.
It is easier to select a contact and delete it on WhatsApp than to have it appear in your WhatsApp contacts list. To get rid of it, delete your contacts from the contacts on the phone itself.
3. Do not accept video calls or voice calls from unknown contacts on WhatsApp
Sure, you can see the number when the call comes in, but don’t answer unknown numbers, especially from foreign countries, unless you know them. This is especially important for video calls because there is no way to turn off the front camera the moment you answer the call.
If you have to pick up a video call from a strange number, manually cover the front camera so the person on the other side can’t see you until you allow it.
4. Do not answer calls or respond to messages from numbers starting with prefixes you do not know
The country code for Saudi Arabia is +966, so you will be able to recognize local numbers if they call or text you. But if you see a strange icon calling you suddenly, ignore the message/call just to be safe.
Scammers often disguise their numbers to look like international calls to scam people. If you have friends/relatives living abroad, make sure they tell you the number they will be calling from so you can save it.
5. Never share any banking details, one-time passwords or passwords with anyone on WhatsApp unless you are absolutely sure who they are
Scammers and hackers have been able to break into or take over WhatsApp accounts by pretending to be an acquaintance and pretending to ask for help because they have been logged out of their accounts.
If Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is activated on your WhatsApp account, you will receive an SMS with an OTP on your registered number if anyone tries to log in to your account from another device.
Don’t share your one-time password (OTP) with anyone unless you turn on a new login yourself.
Also, never share any sensitive information with anyone on WhatsApp like bank details or credit card details. Also, do not use WhatsApp Web on laptops/PCs that are not yours.
6. Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) (2-step verification)
This feature allows you to set a double lock on your WhatsApp account. At the first level, you can protect your WhatsApp account by placing a code lock, or face or fingerprint unlock on the application itself so that no one can open it.
Then the second level is to add a registered phone number.
With this whenever you change your main device and need to set up your WhatsApp account on a new device, the app will send an OTP to your registered number, and you will need to enter this OTP to disconnect the old phone and set up the app on the new device.
If you don’t turn this feature on yourself and suddenly receive a one-time password, ignore it and don’t share it with anyone.
Block the person asking for OTP immediately.
