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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

Students get a place to rag

2008-01-16

A jol place where students from the University of the Free State (UFS) can socialise during events such as rag and intervarsity was officially handed over to the UFS by the builders this week.

The Jol place, which is situated on the Western Campus, has ten float building areas, each with its own power points (currently temporarily) and container (also temporarily). There are also outside taps and high-mast lights on the premises and a large area has been paved. The covered area includes an open stoep, kitchens, a bar, and a stage with artists’ dressing rooms as well as bathrooms for men and ladies and for persons with disabilities. The premises, that includes wooden and concrete benches, can accommodate 1 200 people.

The total project cost for this facility was R6,3 million, of which just over 50% was contributed by Absa.

Attending the hand over ceremony were, from the left: Prof. Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS), Mr Natie Botes (from the building company Ströhfeldt Sikeye Joint Ventures), Ms Edma Pelzer
(Director: Physical Resources and Special Projects and the UFS), Dr Natie Luyt (Dean of Student Services), and Jolice Neniëls (forth-year LL.B. student).

Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

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