How to Know Your WhatsApp Account Has Been Hacked and How to Prevent It

While WhatsApp is fully encrypted with sophisticated encryption algorithms, that does not mean it's invulnerable or that your data is untouchable. With over 1.6 billion users worldwide WhatsApp is the most popular chat app in the world, even beating Facebook Messenger, and that makes it a prime target for hackers.

So what happens if your WhatsApp account is hacked? Though WhatsApp is encrypted and can be hacked to a limited extent only, I don't have to tell you how damaging even a partial leak can be. If your WhatsApp account gets hacked, the hacker can keep an eye on your activities like when you come online on WhatsApp, your sleep/work pattern, your online activity, your private correspondence, etc.

Bad actors can access your WhatsApp info through several means like the WhatsApp web or registering your number on another device. WhatsApp does not work on two phones at the same time but if the hackers register your number on another device they can easily get hold of all your chats including the personal ones. We all have messages that we would rather stay private, right?
Hackers can scan your WhatsApp QR code and access your WhatsApp conversation before you know it, and they can do it from anywhere in the world on top of it. However, hackers had to have physical access to your smartphone at some point to access the QR code.

If this made you paranoid and you want to check if your WhatsApp web is active on an unknown device, tap the three dots given at the top right corner of your WhatsApp window. Go to WhatsApp Web and check the list of all open sessions. This will let you see all the devices that are connected to your WhatsApp. If you see a message, which says " This phone could not be verified", it means your WhatsApp account has been accessed by an unknown device.

How to prevent your WhatsApp account from getting hacked

1. • Always log out from all devices that you see listed under WhatsApp Web. That will prevent hackers from reading your messages anymore. Do this as frequently as you can for optimal security.
   • Never leave your phone unattended. If it's not with you for some reason make sure it's locked tight with a passcode, PIN, biometric, etc.
   • Lock all your apps too to any malicious third parties from accessing your apps.
   • Enable Two-Step Verification in the WhatsApp Account settings. This will add another layer of protection to your data.
   • Never connect your phone to unknown Wi-Fi connections. Hackers often piggyback public connections. They can use the unique MAC address to access all your WhatsApp chats.
   • If your WhatsApp has already been hacked, deactivate your account by sending an email to support@whatsapp.com. The account will be automatically deleted if not accessed for the next 30 days.