WhatsApp tips and tricks: Stop hackers from reading your private messages on WhatsApp

 

WhatsApp boasts the world’s most secure encryption, but hackers can use social engineering to make their way into your chats – through you, the user. Here’s how to stay one step ahead and keep your data safe on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp, the secure messenger acquired by Facebook in 2014, currently has over 2 billion active users. These users are all protected by end-to-end encryption that keeps their chats safe from prying eyes — in fact WhatsApp is also unable to see the contents of your messages. This is thanks to the encryption protocol created by the developers of Signal Messenger, which has been implemented in WhatsApp.

While end-to-end encryption and protect users from hackers trying to read their messages over the network, hackers still manage to get the information they need from users. WhatsApp authenticates users based on their phone number, sending a verification code over SMS. As part of the scheme to “hack” a user’s account, many WhatsApp users have received scam calls and messages in the past, from malicious users who ask for “help” while posing as a known person.

This “social engineering” usually includes asking for a verification code along with excuses such as “their phone network is unavailable”. Soon after the user shares the six-digit code, the hacker gains access to their account.

Unfortunately, while you might think many users would not fall for such a scam, the reality is that many people who do not understand the way verification codes work, think they are helping their friend, but are actually handing full control of their account to the attacker. Once the attacker is in, they can simply transfer the number (along with all your groups) to another number and delete your original account. They can also pretend to be you, while cheating your friends out of their accounts too.

If you want to prevent all of the above from happening to you, here are the steps to securing your WhatsApp account. The first step is to simply decline any requests from anyone claiming to be your friend, asking for a verification code — no matter the reason.

Enable two-step verification

This setting is by far the most important setting users must enable on their WhatsApp account in order to protect themselves from hackers. The setting allows you to set a six digit PIN on your account, that will be used to unlock your account after you receive your SMS verification code. Even if a hacker manages to get hold of your SMS code, they will not be able to log in to your account if they do not have this code.

Step 1) Go to WhatsApp Settings, tap on Account and then tap on Two-Step verification.

Step 2) Now enable the setting and enter a PIN. You will need to reenter the PIN to make sure you entered it correctly.

Step 3) WhatsApp has saved your PIN at this point, but it will keep asking you to enter your PIN from time to time just to ensure that you do not forget it and get locked out of your own account.

Double check your privacy settings

While these settings are not directly related to hackers taking control of your account, they can give attackers a very good idea of who you are and the people you are in contact with, which can be users for social engineering. To prevent this from happening, you should set your privacy settings to keep your personal information out of the hands of hackers and unscrupulous elements.

Step 1) Go to WhatsApp Settings and tap on Account and tap on Privacy.

Step 2) Now check settings for Last Seen, About, Profile Photo and Status. Make sure these are all set to “My contacts” to ensure no one who you do not know can see this information.

Step 3) Make sure that you block any messages from unknown senders asking for personal information and report them to WhatsApp using the in-chat menu.

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COURTESY HT TECH

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Whatsapp will not work on these smartphones from November 1 - Check now

ISLAMABAD, AUG 29: Facebook-owned WhatsApp has sent an update that indicates the messaging app will no longer work on several Android and Apple phones except the compatible smartphones from November 1.

The mobile devices on the list will no longer receive support from the application and will be incompatible with WhatsApp . This in order to focus its efforts on the latest generation smartphones, to guarantee an optimal service of the app.

In general, the affected devices will be those with an operating system equal to or lower than Android 4.0.3 . Or, in the case of iPhone , devices with iOS 9 and earlier . That is to say, practically obsolete equipment that since they do not have the capacity to support the updates.

Here is the complete list of smartphones that will be left without WhatsApp:

Android

• Samsung: Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy SII, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2.
• LG: Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II Dual, Optimus F5, Optimus L5, Optimus L5 II, Optimus L5 Dual, Optimus L3 II, Optimus L7, Optimus L7 II Dual, Optimus L7 II, Optimus F6, Enact , Optimus L4 II Dual, Optimus F3, Optimus L4 II, Optimus L2 II, Optimus Nitro HD and 4X HD, and Optimus F3Q.
• ZTE: Grand S Flex, ZTE V956, Grand X Quad V987 and Grand Memo.
• Huawei: Ascend G740, Ascend Mate, Ascend D Quad XL, Ascend D1 Quad XL, Ascend P1 S, and Ascend D2.
• Sony: Xperia Miro, Sony Xperia Neo L, Xperia Arc S.
• Alcatel: One Touch Evo 7
• Others: Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, Wiko Darknight, Lenovo A820, UMi X2, Faea F1 and THL W8.

ios

• Apple iPhone SE
• Apple iPhone 6S
• Apple iPhone 6S Plus

Although WhatsApp will no longer support the listed teams, that does not mean that the app will stop working immediately.

What if I have one of these smartphones?

WhatsApp suggests changing to a more recent device model to continue using the messaging app and avoid massive account closure.

Otherwise, users will no longer be able to enjoy the functions of the application. This would include the impossibility of connecting to WhatsApp Web since to enter the platform it requests to scan a QR code from the app downloaded on the cell phone, which could no longer be viewed in some cases.

The good news is that closed accounts can be re-enabled with the same phone number, as soon as the user downloads WhatsApp and enters from a more current device that does meet the new requirements.

Another option would be to bet on another messaging platform, such as Telegram, Signal or Facebook’s Messenger.

If you fear that the app will stop working on your mobile device, you should create a backup to save your chat history before November 1. Just follow these steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and enter the menu of the 3 dots in the upper right corner.
2. Go to ‘Settings’ and then select ‘Chats’.
3. Click on ‘Chat Backup’ and then click on ‘Backup’.

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COURTESY arynews

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Here’s how you can take Whatsapp Web Chat snapshots

ISLAMABAD, AUG 28: Taking snapshots from WhatsApp web and smartphones versions are different. However, using the footsteps makes the task of taking screengrabs from the web version easier.

According to a guide by Hindustan Times, these tricks are handy in taking pictures of a lengthy conversation from the web version of the messenger service.

An extension named Fireshot should first be installed. It can captures JPG, GIF and PNG images from any website while scrolling. It does not have any ads and can be used offline. The captured visual content can be sent to OneNote application or copy-paste it in another WhatsApp chat itself.

You can simply ‘print screen’ and save it on your phone or PC, after getting started. The snipping tool will come in handy as users can cut their images as per their requirements.

Taking a picture from  Microsoft Edge makes things easier than doing so in Google Chrome. This is convenient as Microsoft’s browser supports full-page screenshots. The users just need to press the combination of control, shift and s buttons for taking contents from their screens.

A selected part or the whole region of the page can be captured for more content while scrolling. Hit the save button and you’re done.

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COURTESY ARY NEWS

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Changan Pakistan Announces a Big Price Bump for its Entire Lineup

ISLAMABAD, AUG 26: The wave of price hikes is washing over the Pakistani market in the wake of the turbulence in overseas trade activities and the recent depreciation of the local currency against the US Dollar. Master-Changan Motors is one of the latest companies to have announced a steep increase in the prices of its entire lineup of vehicles in the country.

The company has issued an official notification to inform authorized dealerships that the vehicles are to be sold at revised prices from 24 August onwards. It has attributed the increase in freight charges in the South Asian countries after the massive outbreak of the Delta variant COVID-19 infections as the reason for the price hike.

Here are the new prices:

Over a month ago, all the car companies, including Changan, had announced reductions in the prices of their vehicles after the enactment of the new auto policy which allows several tax benefits to the automakers.

However, the increased freight charges, costs of raw materials, and the acute shortage of port staff and cargo containers at the ports have greatly disturbed overseas trade. All the auto industries across the world are undergoing a time of strife due to these issues that seem to have caught up with the Pakistani automotive market as well.

Some automakers have finally buckled under the pressure of the rising operational costs, and a domino effect that will result in the rest of the automakers announcing price hikes for their vehicles as well now seems inevitable.

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COURTESY propakistani

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WhatsApp to launch new messaging feature soon: report

ISLAMABAD, AUG 25: As per news reports, WhatsApp has started working on a new message feature that will allow users to send reactions to messages. 

According to WABetainfo, the instant messaging platform’s move is an unexpected one, considering how WhatsApp has been working on introducing new features over the past few months but has not done the same for its messaging functions. 

“You already know what is a reaction: it’s usually an emoji that you can place on a message to express emotions. Instagram, Twitter, iMessage already support message reactions and today we can start to discover the progress of their development,” read a post on WABetainfo. 

WhatsApp, as per WABetainfo, is working on introducing a message to present when the user is using an outdated version of the app that does not support receiving reactions. 

In this case, the user cannot see the reaction but WhatsApp will present a different message, asking to update WhatsApp to see the reaction:

Since the screenshot taken above is from a WhatsApp beta for Android, WhatsApp will obviously implement this feature on WhatsApp for iOS and Web/Desktop as well.

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COURTESY GEO NEWS

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