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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

2014 Sêr champions: Soetdoring and Veritas

2014-08-12

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Video: - Announcement of the winners:

Kovsies know the feeling. And Sêr is the one event where that feeling runs like an electrical current across the Bloemfontein Campus. The 2014 Kovsie Sêr finals on 9 August was no exception.

The voices of seven ladies’ and six men’s residence serenade groups resounded through the icy evening air. With each rotation round, the tension built at a staggering rate. The three designated venues – Kovsiekerk, Albert Wessels Auditorium and Scholtz Hall – nearly burst at the seams with supporters packing in to cheer on their favourites.

A group from our Qwaqwa Campus, called Unspoken, allowed everyone to breathe a bit easier as they performed a variety of music pieces during the evening.

The suspense reached fever pitch, though, as the time arrived for the finalists to be announced.

The top three spots for the ladies’ residences:
• Marjolein (3rd),
• Vergeet My Nie (2nd) and
• Soetdoring (1st)

The top three spots for the men’s residences:
• Armentum (3rd),
• Vishuis (2nd) and
• Veritas (1st)

When Veritas took to the stage as newly-crowned victors, the crowd could hardly contain their enthusiasm and roared their approval. Amplifying the spirit of the evening even further, Soetdoring’s closing act ensured everyone went home feeling giddy with joy.

Veritas and Soetdoring will now proceed to compete at the nationals, hosted by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on 30 August 2014.

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