WhatsApp: security recommendations to follow in the face of possible data leaks

The past November 29 from current year, several companies specialized in Security cybernetics Yes threat detection, found this 487 million of numbers of 84 countries different were disclosed in one hacking forum. Supposedly, this data was leak and put in sale with a main objective commit phishing scams voice or calls spam for The advertisement. Let us remember that in Mexico Have a report which guaranteed that at least 13 million people with its activated accounts in WhatsApp, they had been in this famous list, without knowing exactly numbers what was left vulnerable. Moreover, the “seller” of this information assured that all the numbers of the alleged lists had been confirmed of his Daily usewhich further increased the odds than anyone could be affected.

What can cybercriminals do with my phone number?

Kaspersky, a company specializing in the detection of digital threats, tells us that once these Data Finish in Unreliable hands, The crooks they can launch various types of attacks, from calls of spam until voice phishing. The risks of privacy they are another major concern. For cybercriminal, have the number of Telephone of a potential victim increases considerably the opportunity of a successful attack, since most of online services require Enter a phone number with others Personal informations, What: name, email address and sometimes card details.

It should be mentioned that the doxing, the harassment on the internet, the blackmail and the extortion are among the possible cyber threats that we can face victims. Remember that the terms Doxing, doxxing and doxing describe the act of reveal intentional Yes publicly personal information about users or organizations, usually through The Internet.? On the other hand, access to phone number of the users can also be used for Identity theft and in the case of WhatsApp, This is done through a message SMS, who can be intercepted That is Fly through social engineering. can also be engaged through a Change SIM card, or the cloning of SIM card, if the user does not activate the function double authentication.

For this reason and with the desire that the thousands of Internet users can protect both your Security like his privacy digital, is Kaspersky shared four powerful tips to avoid the possible risks before the supposed filtration from the basis of data, that so far the spokesperson for Objective denied the existence of this leak since, apparently, there is no proof That the company suffered such an attack on their systems.

These are the four tips to protect your WhatsApp account

• hide their Data to everyone but his own ready of contacts in the setting of privacy of WhatsApp.
• Be careful and lend Warning at calls Yes posts of unknown numbers.
• activate the authentication of two factors, if this has not already been done, so that the crooks they can’t use their the number with malicious purposes.
• never opened connections suspects shipped for all the person, since there may be recordings malicious attachments or lead directly to fraudulent content.

Remember that, although crooks cybernetics they continue to renew themselves day by day, our best weapon is to raise awareness anyone can be vulnerable to an attack of this magnitude. prevent us and let us know is essential for avoid this kind of threats.

Keep reading:

• They hack WhatsApp and sell 13 million accounts in Mexico
• Phishing, vishing and smishing: what are these online scams and how to protect yourself from them
• Warning: these are the least secure passwords, if you find yours, change it immediately!
• WhatsApp: fake tech support message that steals accounts circulates among chats