Researchers Explain the Facts Easy to Break into WhatsApp Accounts - Used by billions of users worldwide, WhatsApp claims that their services have a high level of security and are equipped with end-to-end features so that messages cannot be read by parties other.
However, it turns out that someone's WhatsApp account can be easily taken over by someone else just by capitalizing on a new cellular number, even without the expertise to hack at all.
This case is being a topic of conversation among warganet because it is experienced by a number of WhatsApp users in the country. The easy way to break into this WhatsApp account is known by using the change number or change number feature on the WhatsApp platform.
Also Read : Tips for Securing a WhatsApp Account from Hacking that is Raging
As we know, this number change feature has indeed been on the WhatsApp application for a long time. The goal is to make it easier for users who want to change phone numbers to new numbers.
With the change number feature , the user account in question can be moved to a new number even if it's different from a smartphone or a different user's location. When the old number is replaced with a new number, the profile, name, contact, until the group followed by the old number will change to the new number.
Even if the owner of the old number becomes the admin of a chat group, then the owner of the new number will also have admin access rights to the group followed by the old number.
Behind the convenience provided by WhatsApp regarding this number change feature, it is actually used by parties not responsible for taking over someone else's number.
A WhatsApp user claimed that his WA account was taken over by hackers and could no longer be used after he got a message from WhatsApp containing a link or link . After investigating it turns out that the link is a verification link stating that the user agrees to change the number.
Here's the process or how to break into a WhatsApp account
The incident, attracted the attention of a Siber Security expert Alfons Tanujaya. He also revealed how the scenario of breaking into other people's WhatsApp accounts using this change number feature .
"For example, I want to take someone's account, how to break into a WhatsApp account is by buying a new SIM card, then entering it into a smartphone, then installing the WhatsApp application. Next, I enter the number change feature. The old number is the target number, and the new number is the SIM card I just bought, "explained Alfons.
In order for this transfer process to succeed, WhatsApp needs to get verification approval from the old number user, to change to the new number.
"WhatsApp must get verification or approval to move numbers. The trick, they will send a verification SMS to the old number, "Alfons said further.
"This is a normal procedure that is applied on all platforms, if you have agreed to move numbers, WhatsApp will move the old number to the new number and the number move process is successful," he said.
However, this is where the problem lies. According to Alfons, WhatsApp actually simplified the process of breaking into this WhatsApp account with automatic verification. Because as soon as the old number user clicks on the link, the ownership of the old number automatically changes to the new number.
"This automation system is indeed a goal to facilitate the user, but automation actually makes verification easier when the account is taken by another party, just by clicking the link," Alfons explained.
According to him, WhatsApp should implement manual verification. For example, like the Go-Jek application, users will get an SMS containing the code One Time Password (OTP) and ask the user to enter the application.
"The WhatsApp party should have a safer system, this must be manual, how to enter the code number into your WhatsApp application, then verification will be given," said the founder of PT Vaksincom.
"Security and convenience are inversely proportional. WhatsApp wants to make users easy or safe? If it's easy, everything will be easy, but if it's safe it should be manual and need more process, "he said.
Moreover, if the owner of the target number is the type of person who for police and careless origin of clicks a link that goes to their messages without looking at the contents of the URL, it is certain techniques on how to break into this WhatsApp account running successfully in just minutes.
This condition is exacerbated by the fact that old numbers will be difficult to return if the user has changed the number to the new number.
"Unfortunately, to return to the old number, you ca n't move again from the application, the victim must contact WhatsApp manually via email. That's the process for days because the WhatsApp party has to change it, "Alfons said.
When the user is conscious of being a victim of hacking and trying to recover his old number, the hacker has mastered the user's profile and may have committed fraud to the victim's friends.
Therefore, in order not to become a victim of hacking from how to break into whatsapp account through the change number feature , it is appealed to users of WhatsApp services to be more careful with all types of messages that enter their account from unknown numbers or contacts.
Ignore all messages that are suspicious, and don't be easily fooled by messages or links sent to your account.
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