How To Know If Whatsapp Is Hacked Iphone

Like many other online applications, WhatsApp does its best to keep its users' data private and secure. With features such as one login at a time and two-factor authentication, the platform is relatively safe.

But, like anything connected to the internet, there are security vulnerabilities that nefarious individuals are all too happy to explore. Due to the nature of WhatsApp, it's essential to act fast if you think your account got breached.

This article will teach you how to spot suspicious activity in WhatsApp and teach you how to secure your account. Let's dive in!

Getting Signed In

To better understand how WhatsApp security works, we'll first walk you through logging into your account. WhatsApp provides two ways to access; online and via the application (available on iOS and Android).

Using the web version of WhatsApp makes it a lot easier to type, as you can do it on a keyboard rather than tapping on your phone screen.

Open a WhatsApp Web session by selecting the three-dot menu icon in the main WhatsApp window.
Select WhatsApp Web. This opens your camera.
You will be directed to scan a QR code which you can get by opening WhatsApp Web in your browser.
Open WhatsApp Web in your browser.
Scan the QR code in your browser window with your phone camera.

Your WhatsApp window on your phone should be reflected in the browser, allowing you to chat and interact as usual.

Check if Someone is Using Your WhatsApp Account

WhatsApp is relatively easy to use. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to spot an interloper if they aren't interacting with the application. This scenario would most likely be someone who only wants to eavesdrop on your conversations. But, some hackers also want to take over your account.

Regardless of their intentions, we will use this section to educate you on some warning signs that someone is in your account.

Check Your WhatsApp Activity

First and foremost, if the other person is using your account, they will leave a trace. Here's where to look:

Check your messages – For starters, the most apparent signs of another person using your account lies in your messages. From messages you didn't send to messages from unknown people, this should be your first stop.

When you open WhatsApp, you'll first see a list of messages. Review this list for any messages you didn't send and any messages you received from people you don't know.

If you do see odd messaging activity, there's likely someone in your account.

Check your contact information – If the interloper tries to hijack your account, they'll start changing your contact information.

Using the WhatsApp mobile application, do this:

Tap on the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner. Then, tap 'Settings.'
Tap on your profile at the top of the menu.
Review the information and verify that is accurate and up-to-date.

If anything is changed, or there is information here that you do not recognize, you'll need to secure your account, which we will discuss a little more in detail below.

Check for WhatsApp Communications – At this point, you should also check your text messages for any communications from WhatsApp. If you're using an iPhone, open Messages and use the search bar at the top to type in 'WhatsApp.' If you're using an Android device, use the magnifying glass to search for texts from WhatsApp.

What we're looking for here is any communications about account changes or account access.

Check for New Friends

Another tell-tale sign that someone is in your account is when you have new people or friends. All you need to do to review your contacts on WhatsApp is open the app and tap on the chat icon in the lower right-hand corner.

At the top of the page, you will see the number of contacts (36 in this example). Underneath that, you should scroll down and make sure that you recognize everyone on the list.

One great thing about WhatsApp is that it will automatically detect contacts from your phone using the app. So, if someone signs in on their device, you'll likely see people you don't recognize.

Check WhatsApp Web

If you use WhatsApp Web already, you may know that you can see the last session or any open session if you select it from the three-dot settings menu. This action is a sure-fire way to find out if anyone is using your account.

Open WhatsApp and select the three-dot menu icon from the main window.
Select Linked Devices.
Review the logged-in devices.

If the camera opens, there is no active, ongoing WhatsApp Web session. If you see a window that lists a logged-in computer, there is an active session.

Tap on each session, then tap 'Log Out' to kick the intruder out of your WhatsApp account.

Unlike other services, this is the only way to see your WhatsApp login activity.

Securing Your WhatsApp Account

Now that we've determined someone is using your account, let's get into securing it. Keep in mind, if any of the situations mentioned above are present, you'll need to act quickly.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication in WhatsApp

If someone has been using your WhatsApp account, you need to lock it down. If you're lucky, it's a sibling or partner spying on what you're doing. If you're not so fortunate, it could be a hacker stealing your contacts and data and wreaking havoc with your social life. Either way, you need to lock it down by turning on two-factor authentication.

WhatsApp doesn't use passwords. Instead, you need to enable two-factor authentication. That way, anyone who tries to log in will need to enter a verification code.

Open WhatsApp and select the three-dot menu icon from the main window.
Select Settings and Account.
Select Two-step verification.
Enable it and set your PIN code.

Once set, every time you open WhatsApp, you will need to enter that PIN code to authenticate. Make sure the PIN isn't something obvious, and you have secured your WhatsApp account even further.

WhatsApp is a very secure app but is only as safe as you keep it. Using two-factor authentication is a viable way to lock down your account if someone has been accessing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some more answers to your questions about WhatsApp.

What can I do if I've lost access to my WhatsApp account?

In the worst-case scenario situations, a hacker has completely taken over your account. When this happens, you can't log in, and all of your account information is in the hands of the hacker. Getting your account back can be complicated. Fortunately, we have an article here that will walk you through reclaiming your WhatsApp account.

I received a text verification code from WhatsApp. Does that mean someone is using my account?

One of the more notorious ways someone can gain access to your WhatsApp account is by obtaining the text verification code. If WhatsApp sends you a text verification code, it's best to ignore it.

You may even receive multiple codes back to back. The reason for this is that WhatsApp will only send so many verification codes in a time period. Afterward, the app will lock you out if you log out.

Do you know of any other ways someone can access your WhatsApp? Let us know below if you do!