Can WhatsApp Be Hacked? The Answer May Shock You!

We’ve all heard of WhatsApp and probably used WhatsApp for private messaging. Or so we’d like to think. You may be using WhatsApp to keep your messages between you and your recipient with it’s end-to-end encryption. But have you ever thought can WhatsApp be hacked?  We explore the possibilities and incidents in this article. The answer may shock you!

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a free messaging app for iPhone, Android, and other smartphones. It uses your phone’s Internet connection 4G/3G/2G/EDGE or WiFi to let you message and call friends and family. You can use WhatsApp to switch from SMS or iMessages to send and receive private messages, calls, photos, videos and voice messages. The Facebook company owns WhatsApp and there are over 1.5 million users.  

WhatsApp Business enables you to have a business presence on WhatsApp, communicate more efficiently with your customers, and help you grow your business. Some of the features of WhatsApp Business include a business profile, business messaging tools, landline/fixed number support, ability to run both WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business on the same phone.  

Breach Incidents for WhatsApp

The Facebook company has been under a lot of scrutiny recently. They have had to answer to Congress about the recent data breaches amongst their social networks. In early May, WhatsApp discovered that it had been hacked.  By “an advanced cyber actor” that infected an unknown number of users. This bad actor made calls to WhatsApp users, and even if the target didn’t pick up the phone, they were able to infect the mobile phone by installing malware surveillance technology. Giving them access to information including location data and private messages.  

The spyware was reportedly developed by Israel’s NSO Group, whose Pegasus software is known to have targeted human-rights activists. The breach affected Android phones, iPhones, and Windows phones.   

In a statement to Business Insider, a WhatsApp representative said:

“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices. We are constantly working alongside industry partners to provide the latest security enhancements to help protect our users.”

Downloading this patch and making sure you update regularly your Whatsapp account and phone will keep your app safe from this type of malware. But you still need to look out for spy apps.  

WhatsApp Spy

Another way to see an individual’s WhatsApp conversations and content is via a WhatsApp Spy App. Most WhatsApp Spy Apps are compatible with the latest iPhone and Android phone models and operating systems. Since they are always changing and updating, it can be hard to detect if one is on your device.  

A WhatsApp Spy App allows users to monitor virtually all WhatsApp Activities, including:

• • • Photos, Videos, and GIFs taken and shares.
    • Private Messages and Messaging Groups.
    • Voice Messages, Documents, and Map Locations Shared
    • Call History (no recordings)

A spy app can also be used to monitor other social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

With WhatsApp being as wildly popular as it is, chances are you are using this app or someone you know is. Now that you know, “Can WhatsApp be hacked?”, make sure you are protected from data breaches by updating your app regularly is the best practice.