WhatsApp is a prime target for crooks – so watching the warning signs of a dangerous text can help you stay safe.
Even messages that seem to be coming from friends or family can be a sinister trap.
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No matter what device you are using, it is very important to stay safe on WhatsAppCredit: Meta/WhatsApp
That’s why you need to be wary of anyone asking for personal information.
We spoke to cyber-experts who revealed the tell-tale signs of the WhatsApp scam.
And unknown numbers of texts can be one of the biggest clues.
Brian Higgins, security expert at Comparitech, told The Sun, “Scam messages often come from unknown numbers. They’ll be easier to identify if you keep a clean contact list.”
“They also disguise themselves as official messages, offering tech support to solve problems you probably didn’t know existed, for example, or telling you you won a prize.
“Always make sure you’re running the most up-to-date version of any platform and that you can confidently remove the first one.
“Then think about how many times in your life you’ve won a prize for no reason and you can get rid of the other one too.
“Try to think before you click and don’t let FOMO scare you off the ‘delete’ button. This is your best way to stay safe.”
If you are a regular WhatsApp user, then you need to be on high alert.
WhatsApp has over 2 billion users, so it is often targeted by crooks.
We spoke to cyber expert Tom Davidson to get his three top tips for spotting scams on the Meta-owned WhatsApp.
Here’s what Tom, a senior director at security firm Lookout, told The Sun…
Tom’s three WhatsApp warnings
Here’s what you need to see:
Clue #1
Incoming messages from unknown contacts prompting you to carry on a conversation, especially if the spelling or grammar seems off.
The same goes for messages from known contacts that sound different than usual.
Clue #2
Messages containing unwanted offers like free gifts, prize drawers or discounts, even if they come from a reputable brand and especially if they ask you to submit personal details.
Clue #3
Any message that includes clickable links you weren’t expecting to receive.
You can manually type the link in another browser to be safe.
Attackers can use special characters in a message to hide a malicious link that looks like a familiar or reputable site at first glance.
stay safe on whatsapp
There are some other important safety tips you can take advantage of.
The first is to make sure that you keep your phone and apps up to date with the latest software patches.
These updates often include significant security fixes that eliminate bugs used by hackers to attack your device.
And you should generally be wary of anyone asking for personal information (like credit card details or login codes), even if the text is coming from a friend.
If a hacker gains access to your WhatsApp account, you can kick them out by logging in again.
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