Whatsapp is a very popular messaging service and it is used by billions of people across the globe and is owned by Facebook. It is available on almost all platforms including Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
With so many people using this app, it has become a prime target for hackers and spammers who want to use it to spread malware or steal information from unsuspecting users.
The popularity of WhatsApp also means that companies are looking to find ways to hack into WhatsApp servers in order to steal important data from their clients or competitors
In this WhatsApp hacking guide, you will learn about various types of WhatsApp hacks and also how to prevent them from happening. Before we get into the methods for hacking a WhatsApp account, let’s see whether hacking a WhatsApp account is even feasible!
WhatsApp is a Facebook-owned cross-platform messaging application that is created by some of the world’s smartest programmers. End-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient can see what is sent. It often frequently addresses security problems that users have. Developers have no power over certain events.
Let’s say you tell anyone your email password and they use it inappropriately. That can’t be called hacking in the real sense. Nonetheless, people say that they have been hacked in this case as well. As a result, most WhatsApp accounts are compromised by exploiting users for passwords or OTPs.
Disclaimer: This blog is completely intended for learning purposes. The strategies discussed here are to keep you more knowledgeable and aware. Inappropriate use of this information is not advised.
Hackers use a variety of methods and strategies to gain unauthorized access to your system and applications. In this article, we’ll list the most popular and legal ways to hack WhatsApp accounts for free using ethical hacking.
The following is a list of the strategies:
1. WhatsApp Web
2. Social engineering
3. Google Drive backup
4. Third-party applications
5. Mac spoofing
1. WhatsApp Web: You will have most likely used WhatsApp Web’s functionality. It’s a powerful tool that lets you log in to any browser without having to enter a username or password, and all you have to do is check a QR code from your WhatsApp account. This is one of the simplest methods for intercepting WhatsApp messages.
The following are steps to accessing the target’s WhatsApp account:
i. Open your device’s browser and navigate to web.whatsapp.com.
ii. Use the victim’s phone to access WhatsApp.
iii. Pick WhatsApp Web from the settings menu, then scan the code on your computer with the target device.
iv. Now you can use WhatsApp to gain access to the victim’s account.
The ease of this method makes it one of the most used methods. This function is not only useful but also abused. Here are some examples of scenarios:
i. Someone can ask for your phone to make a short call and, while you’re distracted, log into your WhatsApp account using a browser. It just takes a few seconds!
ii. Assume you failed to log out of your WhatsApp account when using your friend’s laptop. Your friend can easily access your Whatsapp without your phone and remotely too.
PREVENTION: Install an app locker on your phone to avoid anyone accessing your Whatsapp via this approach.
2. Social engineering: The most frequently asked question is, “Can we hack WhatsApp without making contact with the victim’s phone?” The response is, “Yes!” We can hack WhatsApp without the victim’s phone using the social engineering technique. This is sometimes called Phishing
The year 2020 witnessed a huge increase in social engineering attacks, as it was used to hack many people’s WhatsApp accounts. Scammers sent text messages with malicious links/URLs. When you click on these links, you give the hacker permission to log into your WhatsApp account on his or her phone, giving them access to all of your details. Have you ever received a suspicious email telling you that you’ve won a lottery and providing you with links to claim your prize? I’m just hoping you didn’t click on any of those links! These links, once clicked, take you to websites that can steal personal information from your phone, like WhatsApp messages, without your knowledge.
PREVENTION: Never give out your passwords or credentials to anyone.
ii. Spam filter should be set to ‘High’ in your email settings.
iii. To protect your laptop, install antivirus software and firewalls.
iv. Do not click on any suspicious or stranger-sent links.
3. Google Drive backup: All WhatsApp user would have backed up their chats to Google Drive and synchronized them. Google Drive is another useful method for intercepting WhatsApp messages.
Picture this scenario: you’ve given your PC or mobile phone to someone for work or maintenance, and you’ve signed in to all of your accounts on this PC or phone. You are encouraging someone to hack your WhatsApp messages just by doing this.
Gaining access to your Whatsapp will be done like this;
i. Google Drive and WhatsApp chat backup must be in sync. The hacker can save the chat backup file to his or her computer and email it to himself.
ii. The hacker will then download WhatsApp to his or her computer and type your phone number into it. He or she may use some of the social engineering techniques listed above to verify the information.
iii. After that, he or she will easily restore all of your messages on his or her phone using the Google Drive backup file that was downloaded earlier.
PREVENTION: Do not give out your email address or password to anyone.
ii. Make your email passwords strong.
iii. If anyone is using your computer or smartphone, do not leave it unattended.
4. Third-party applications — Using spying Tools: To hack WhatsApp accounts online, both Android and iOS users can use a variety of spying tools. Hackers can easily view someone’s WhatsApp messages with these spying tools. The majority of these spying tools are also accessible to everyone. They include Cocospy, FlexiSPY, iKeyMonitor, Hoverwatch, etc., and some of the paid tools are Peepspy, POCWAPP, etc.
You can reach out to professionals to recommend the appropriate one for your unique situation here.
Using spying tools only requires
Here’s an example of a hacking attack like this. When you hand over your phone to someone, they will quickly download and install these surveillance tools, and you will be unaware that an application is running on your device. It can also come in form of a phishing link in an email or text message. Once clicked, the spy tool could be remotely installed without you noticing.
PREVENTION: Often use anti-malware software that can detect and uninstall spying software, as well as warn you when malicious software is being downloaded onto your computer. Also, only download apps from trusted sources.
5. Mac spoofing: What are MAC and spoofing?
A MAC address is a one-of-a-kind address that identifies a computer on a network. Every MAC device connected to a network has a specific MAC address, unlike IP addresses, which can be dynamic. Since every computer in the world has a unique MAC address, applications now use it for authorization. One of the hacking techniques is spoofing, which involves an individual or computer imitating the characteristics of another device.
You may have come across fake profiles on Facebook, for example, where people enter false profile pictures and names to mark themselves as someone else. Similarly, if a hacker obtains your computer’s MAC address, he or she will be able to fake a device that appears to be your phone connected to the Internet.
The hacker will be able to access your WhatsApp account exploring this configuration. The following methods can be used to determine your MAC address:
Followed by these steps:
This method necessitates technical knowledge, and gaining access to the victim’s phone is just the beginning; the hacker would need the phone again to check the number, making this method the most difficult.
PREVENTION: Never give out your phone to strangers, and always use an app locker to ensure that none of your applications are accessed.
