DIGITAL LIFE

Brazil has 3 million WhatsApp cases cloned

One of the basic rules of the internet is that one should not click on links that look fake, or that come from unknown sources. However, this remains one of the simplest ways to hack into other people's devices. A survey conducted by the digital laboratory of the startup PSafe, the dfndr lab, revealed that more than 3 million Brazilians had their WhatsApp account cloned in 2020.
According to the laboratory, despite the large number of attacks, the number is still 18% lower than that recorded during the same period last year. According to experts, one of the reasons for the fall is thanks to the use of social networks and other media to publicize the danger.
The cloning of WhatsApp occurs when a user gets the program to be opened in another terminal other than the smartphone or computer of the user who owns the account.
There are a few ways to do this. The simplest requires that the criminal have the victim's device in hand and then open WhatsApp Web with the user's account on their own computer. This can happen if the victim leaves his cellphone unprotected from passwords with other people.
Another way is through a virtual scam in which the victim himself gives a WhatsApp authentication code to criminals who, in general, send fake messages to request this code. These are promotions, awards and supposed new updates to the app. The victim receives a message from WhatsApp itself stating a numeric code. If this code is passed on, it is possible to switch the device application account.
According to PSafe, more than 40,000 redirect links to fake websites, resulting in scams and data theft, are active and circulating through social networks and messaging applications, such as the virtual messenger itself.
In the case of WhatsApp, it is possible to check if the application has been cloned if the user notices strange messages that were sent by his own account. If you notice that the application has been installed on another phone, it is possible that the cloning has also occurred. It is also worth accessing the application menu, going to WhatsApp Web and checking the active sessions. Another tip is to check with some contacts, mainly from groups and active conversations, if they have received any notification that their phone number has changed.
Even so, as it is not so easy to notice that your cell phone has been cloned - especially when social networks do not suffer any apparent change -, experts began to disclose ways to ensure that the smartphone is safe. Check if the battery consumption is excessive, if the device is overheating or if it has slowed down for no apparent reason are some of the tips.

Source: PSafe