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Don’t get hacked; protect your WhatsApp account

08 October 2020 Photo Istock

Whatsapp security — It is important to be safe when using WhatsApp. Do not leave your phone unattended when you are not close by.

There are 2 billion WhatsApp users in the world, and 1,6 billion WhatsApp users access their accounts on a daily basis.

However, it is important to also be safe when using this popular communication tool.

According to Cobus van Jaarsveld, Assistant Director: Threat Detection, Investigations and Liaison in Protection Services, it does happen that people’s WhatsApp accounts get hacked; this is a serious violation of privacy.

“It means a third party now has unlimited access to your personal chats, information, media – and in some instances, they can also masquerade as you by deleting your chats, replying to your chats, and committing crimes. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of how harmful it can be to get hacked,” says Van Jaarsveld.

He adds: “Hackers can access your WhatsApp data by various means, e.g. via WhatsApp web or registering your number on another device.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) provided the following tips to prevent one’s WhatsApp from getting hacked:

• Log out from all computers that you see in the list under WhatsApp Web. This will stop hackers from further reading your chats. However, this should be done every time you use WhatsApp web.
• Do not leave your phone unattended when you are out.
• Lock all your apps to prevent unknown people from accessing your apps.
• Do not connect your phone to unknown Wi-Fi connections, as hackers can also use the unique MAC address to access all your WhatsApp chats.
• In case your WhatsApp has already been hacked, deactivate your account by emailing support@whatsapp.com. Your account will be automatically deleted if not accessed for 30 days.
• Enable two-step verification under your WhatsApp account settings. This will add an extra layer of security to the app.
• Lock WhatsApp. It is imperative to have the AppLocker that will help you lock your WhatsApp. While WhatsApp does not offer this application per se, you can download it and the app will facilitate the use of your WhatsApp with a password or PIN. This will help to prevent anyone who has access to your phone from accessing your WhatsApp account, since they will require a password to open it.

News Archive

New facility helps with better clinical training

2012-09-06

The new Authentic Learning Space at the School of Nursing allows students to practice very important skills in their state-of-the-art patient simulation rooms.
Photo: Supplied.
4 September 2012

When you visit the School of Nursing at the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), you will be alarmed by all the casualties and patients being treated here daily.

There are patients with serious penetration wounds, as well as open and laceration wounds which could be fatal if not attended to urgently.

In one ward a child is being treated for breathing difficulties and in the emergency ward a patient who suffered a heart attack has just been rushed in.

At the end of the session students pack up their textbooks and the ‘patients’ are re-programmed and prepared for the next group of nursing students to practice their clinical skills.

The School of Nursing recently had the official opening for their Authentic Learning Space where they showcased their state-of-the-art patient simulation rooms.

In each of the many examining rooms as well as in the high-care rooms there are simulation mannequins that can be programmed for certain medical conditions or for medical emergencies.

Speaking at the opening of the Authentic Learning Space, Prof. Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academic, said universities are often accused of not preparing students adequately for their careers.

“We know students learn better by interaction. With access to authentic learning spaces, students are able to gain a deeper sense of a discipline and they can begin to grasp the unwritten knowledge of practice that is often used on a daily basis.”

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