Doesn’t the term “WhatsApp Hack” sound like a nightmare? WhatsApp has become an integral part of the personal and professional life of almost every individual around the globe. Whether it is a personal private chat or a piece of confidential business information, WhatsApp knows way too much. The mere thought of getting your WhatsApp hacked can be daunting.
Although WhatsApp incorporates stringent security measures, one cannot rule out that it’s not entirely unbreachable. In fact, there have been WhatsApp hacking instances where people could not tell that they had their privacy compromised.
Moreover, according to reports, WhatsApp never deletes your messages permanently; rather, it saves them on cloud storage. Thus, it is imperative to know how one can hack into your WhatsApp and steal the information you would not want to be available in the public domain.
It is neither convenient nor ethical or legal to hack someone’s WhatsApp messages. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that there are more than a few ways someone can execute a WhatsApp hack on your phone.
Keep scrolling to know the ways someone can hack your WhatsApp and how you can be vigilant regarding the same.
Remote Code Execution via GIF
GIFs or graphical image formats are popular short looping video clips that are a fun way to share memes and other content. However, researchers have discovered a vulnerability that allows hackers to compromise someone’s WhatsApp messages, media, files, and chat sessions through malicious GIFs.
The remote code execution via GIF allows a remote hacker to compromise WhatsApp on an Android device and steal WhatsApp messages and files.
The malicious GIF obtains all the permissions to access and read the SD card and WhatsApp messages database through a malicious code/payload. The code gets executed when a opens the gallery picker to select and send a media file to another . The hacker then gets permission to record audio, and access to the camera, images, files, s, etc., on your WhatsApp.
That said, it’s quite easy to identify such remote code executions; you just have to avoid ing a GIF file received as a document file attachment instead of a media file.
Sending the malicious GIF as a document allows hackers to distort the malicious codes hidden in the file through media compression.
Paid Third-Party Apps
Someone who isn’t tech-savvy can also hack into your WhatsApp by simply purchasing and using third-party apps that do the job for them. Here are the most popular ones:
uMobix
uMobix is a third-party application that allows someone to access your WhatsApp messages, data, documents, and other phone files and call logs. The good thing here is that they cannot spy on you without access to your phone, i.e., they need to have physical access to your phone for several minutes to install the app on your phone.
However, if someone has installed uMobix on your phone, they will be capable of tracking your WhatsApp in real-time. It will allow them to access all the sent and received messages, find names in your list, read group messages, and view & the media files you exchanged on WhatsApp.
It is prudent to mention that the uMobix app is primarily designed for parents to monitor their minor children’s activities on the phone. However, one cannot rule out that the app has severe misusage potential and can allow people to spy on each other.
xMobi
xMobi, just like uMobix, is a mobile tracking app that allows someone to monitor your phone’s activities like call log, s, SMS, GPS, and social media apps, including WhatsApp.
xMobi can work on both Apple and Android devices and give your phone access to spies/hackers. However, that isn’t what it was made for; the makers created the app for parents and spouses who want to track the activities of their children or spouses.
It’s slightly easier for you to save your Android device from non-consensual xMobi installation than an Apple device because one will need physical access to your Android phone to install xMobi on it.
However, one can remotely install xMobi on your Apple device if they know your Apple ID and . Still, you can save your Apple device from a remote installation by setting up a six-digit verification code to any remote installation of apps.
Socially Engineered Attacks
“Socially Engineered Attacks” is nothing but a fancy term used to address psychologically manipulating someone to make security mistakes that can give away sensitive information or grant access to critical apps/ resources such as WhatsApp.
Although such WhatsApp hack attacks do not require a lot of technical knowledge, it entails as many as four stages:
- The investigation involves identifying the target and setting up the ground for the attack.
- Hook involves gaining the victim’s trust for gaining a foothold.
- Play involves execution and information collection.
- Exit involves removing all the traces and closing the interaction.
There are various techniques for carrying out socially engineered attacks, including baiting, scareware, pretexting, phishing, spear phishing, and so on.
Although such attacks are majorly used for propagating false information and scams, a socially engineered attack can also be used to access important and confidential information such as a verification code or an e-mail.
You can save yourself from falling victim to a socially engineered attack by simply making a habit of not ing sensitive information, such as OTPs and credentials, to any individual, even if you know them.
Besides, you can also enable two-step verification to protect yourself from a socially engineered attack. With two-step verification enabled on your WhatsApp, you will get a six-digit code every time you or someone else tries to install WhatsApp using your phone number.
Media File Jacking
Media file jacking attacks work by intercepting the process used by apps to save media files. The entire process is executed by malware that runs in the background on the target device.
Media file jacking works only when a messaging app like WhatsApp uses external storage to save the media files. The malware targets files when WhatsApp processes and saves them on the hard drive and when it is being displayed in the app.
Such attacks mainly target image and audio files. It even changes the thumbnail to misguide the app s into thinking they are opening the correct file.
Media file jacking attacks are mainly used to spread fake news and information. At the same time, hackers employ such attacks to carry out money scams by swapping invoices or payment addresses sent in an image format. It can manipulate photos, videos, documents, voice notes, etc.
However, you can easily protect your device and WhatsApp by disabling external file storage. You have to go to settings on your WhatsApp, then to chats, and turn off the media visibility.
Fake WhatsApp Clones
People often seek ways to simultaneously operate multiple WhatsApp s on a single device and eventually a clone WhatsApp app that is neither reliable nor safe.
The majority of WhatsApp clone apps are fake and consist of malware that hacks into your device and WhatsApp to allow the hackers to steal information and files from your WhatsApp and phone. Not just that, it also compromises your Android system security.
A recent example of a “clone scam” is the pink WhatsApp scam, where a clone of the original WhatsApp claimed to change your WhatsApp’s color to pink from the standard green one.
The pink WhatsApp looks strikingly similar to the original WhatsApp. However, once a s the pink WhatsApp and installs it on their device, the app obtains access to all the data and media files.
WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp web makes it easier to use WhatsApp on computers for those who have to spend the larger part of their day working on a computer. Besides, a larger screen and keyboard make it convenient to exchange messages on the go without checking the phone now and then. Moreover, WhatsApp web is WhatsApp’s native solution to allow its s to use the application on computers.
However, it tags along with the risk of leaking your WhatsApp messages and media, especially when you are accessing the WhatsApp web from someone else’s computer.
If the “Keep me Signed in” box is checked when you , your WhatsApp will be signed in on the computer even if you close the browser window or shut down the computer.
Therefore, the best practice is to avoid using WhatsApp web on a computer that you do not own. And even if you have to access WhatsApp web on someone else’s computer, you can protect your WhatsApp data and media by ensuring to log out when you are done.
Stay Aware of Security Issues in WhatsApp
Although messages and calls on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, it’d be wise to be aware of the loopholes and security issues that can make you fall prey to a WhatsApp hack. The best way to save your WhatsApp data and messages from getting compromised is to be vigilant.
The examples mentioned earlier are only a few of the many ways someone can access your WhatsApp and steal confidential information and private files.
It’s pertinent to mention that WhatsApp also constantly brings patches to ensure security against newly discovered vulnerabilities. However, being aware of the security threats on WhatsApp can give you a heads up when you come across a situation that can lead to WhatsApp hacking.
How to Read Someone’s WhatsApp?
It’s certainly not black and white when it comes to hacking into someone’s WhatsApp. For instance, hacking into a suspicious person’s WhatsApp can allow intelligence agencies to zero in on and neutralize national security threats.
Next, it can also empower parents to comprehend if their minor children are connected with someone they should not be (drug dealers, pedophiles, criminals, etc.) and help parents take necessary measures to ensure their children’s safety.
Regardless of the reason, the only way everyday people can read someone’s WhatsApp is by knowing how to hack WhatsApp.
However, as discussed earlier, the ways of WhatsApp hacking from a remote location requires technical proficiency. But with paid third-party apps like uMobix, you can effortlessly spy on someone’s WhatsApp.
How to Hack a WhatsApp Conversation with uMobix Spy App?
Whether you need to monitor your children’s activities on WhatsApp or save the integrity of your relationship or access the business secrets of a competitor, uMobix can help you.
You will have to gain physical access to the target device and install the app on it, which should take you only a few minutes. The entire process consists of 3 steps: registration, app installation & setup, and monitoring.
When you are done ing, you will have to install the app on the target device. Then, you log on to your space and navigate and click on the “WhatsApp” option in the menu on the right. It will display all the WhatsApp activities on the target device, including the messages exchanged in real-time.
How to Hack WhatsApp Messages on Android?
The answer to how to hack WhatsApp on Android includes having physical access to the device for at least a few minutes so that you can install a third-party WhatsApp spyware app on the target phone to monitor WhatsApp activities.
Another way to hack WhatsApp is by obtaining the OTP to access someone else’s WhatsApp on your device. Again, you’ll either need physical access to the phone or the OTP by gaining the target person’s trust.
WhatsApp hacking can also be executed remotely in several ways like:
- Remote code execution via GIF
- Socially engineered attacks
- Media file jacking
- WhatsApp clones
That said, these methods require sound technical knowledge.
Can Someone See WhatsApp from Another Phone?
As discussed earlier, one can monitor someone else’s WhatsApp activities and access media and messages through third-party apps and various remote hacking activities. But things are different when it comes to seeing the complete WhatsApp interface from another phone.
To see WhatsApp on another phone, you will have to install WhatsApp and to the desired WhatsApp using the OTP received on the target number ed on WhatsApp.
Alternatively, remote access apps like AnyDesk can also allow you to see your WhatsApp from another phone. However, you will require access permissions and codes for the same. And not just WhatsApp, AnyDesk can also allow the to access all the other apps and files on the target device.
Endnote
They say prevention is always better than cure. However, one cannot employ a cure without understanding the illness and how it can affect them. Similarly, it will help if you know beforehand about the ways someone can hack into your WhatsApp so that you can prevent it from happening.
It’s evident from the discussion above that there are seemingly countless ways of executing a WhatsApp hack. And the only potent way to protect yourself from them is to be vigilant and informed.
So, make sure you leave no stone unturned to save your private WhatsApp messages and data from getting into the wrong hands by sticking to the best safety practices on social media.