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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

Kovsie’s big break legacy

2013-03-12

Zama Sibinda
Photo: Zama Sibinda
08 March 2013

The University of the Free State is proud of Zama Sibinda’s national accomplishment. The BCom Honours student were selected in the top 25 from a list of 2 500 contestants to take part in the “The big break legacy” competition that will be broadcast on SABC. This show aims to start a global revolution of entrepreneurs that will build new enterprises which are innovative, exciting and sustainable and that contributes meaningfully towards the social development of communities.

Zama’s concept is that of a night billboard which can be seen from every angle in a particular city where it will be displayed. The billboard will be reflected towards the sky using a laser hologram projector and it will only work at night. “This billboard would be ideal for specific cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, New York and Las Vegas that hardly sleep,” says Zama.

To vote Zama into the top 12 of the competition, please sms “Zama Sibinda” to 33614 (sms rates: R1.50. Ts &Cs apply).The competition lines are open from 8 March till 12 March 2013.

More information: Students can follow Zama on twitter: @Mr Sibinda. They can also like his FACEBOOK page: Zama Sibinba.

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