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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 residences officially open

2013-03-06

Celebrating the official opening of the two new residences, were Vusumzi Mesatywa, Prime of House Outeniqua and Sherilyn Roelofse, Prime of House ConLaurês.
Photo: Johan Roux
06 March 2013

Video clip (YouTube)

The one implies dreams of victory; the name of the other means ‘bringers of honey’ in the Khoisan language.

With these unique names, two new residences, House ConLaurês and House Outeniqua, will create new memories for generations of Kovsie students. The two residences were officially opened on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State, bringing the number of junior residences on the campus to 19.

Celebrating the new addition to residence life, Mr Quintin Koetaan, Director: Housing and Residence Affairs, told residents of House ConLaurês and House Outeniqua that they were part of history. He told guests that the residences will provide accommodation for a new generation of students and encouraged residents to breathe life into their respective abodes.

“Nobody thought that two residences could be built in a year,” he said about the short time between the planning and opening of the residences in January this year. The two residences welcomed 250 students each, with male and female students living under one roof, but in separate units.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, praised Koetaan and his team, as well as the developers, saying they have done something completely different on the campus. He said the two residences will create a place which students can call home. “It will create a place not just to eat and sleep, but also to learn. It will create memories for many years to come.”

Mr Rudi Buys, Dean: Student Affairs, said House ConLaurês and House Outeniqua is much more than simply residences. “It’s about the university putting its heart out there, showing what can be done.” He told guests that representatives from other universities and the Department of Higher Education and Training have visited the UFS to see what is being done here.

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