Home » today » Technology » The Whatsapp code virus strikes again, how to defend yourself- Corriere.it

The Whatsapp code virus strikes again, how to defend yourself- Corriere.it

It describes how a virus that blocks WhatsApp but in fact the message with the six-digit code that many are receiving is a full blown scam. Already renamed New Year’s scam, a quick and easy system for take control of other people’s chats exploiting the victim’s ingenuity.

The simple but effective system. First of all the victim receives the message with the six-digit code. an authentic message, it really comes from WhatsApp support, and that number the real authentication code of our Whatsapp. The hacker, or rather the scammer, requested it in our place. Then this sends us a message from a number we do not know but, to make the trap more credible, it has inserted the photo of an acquaintance of ours. The text looks genuine, something like Hi, I sent you a code by mistake, could you send it back to me? and the first reaction to think that the sender has changed number, we can trust, better give him a hand. But here is where the second phase starts. Once the code is sent, the scammer can pretend to be us. Like when we change phones, install Whatsapp on your device and then enter our authentication code. The result is that he will be able to use our chat and we will not.

WhatsApp, the latest news

As you can see, the 6-digit code scam inside the message, as it has been renamed, relies on our ingenuity. No one will ever be able to ask us to send them our authentication code simply because it is only for us. Not to others. Once you get control of the profile then the chain reaction starts. The scammer can see our contacts and groups, contact friends and relatives by pretending to be us and thus continue to claim victims. It must be said that this scam then started from afar but returned to vogue in recent days, with approach messages hidden among those of good wishes. As reported byAnsa, hundreds of people were hit in Orzinuovi, in the province of Brescia, including Gianpietro Maffoni, senator of the Brothers of Italy and mayor of the city.

As a preventive measure, it is sufficient never to give that six-digit code to anyone and for any reason. If, on the other hand, we have been hit we can regain control of the profile asking Whatsapp to send us a new code. This is in fact sent to our phone number that the hacker obviously does not have (which is why he asked us for the authentication code). By entering the phone number and code we should be able to access our profile again and have full control over it, stealing it from the scammer. In the event that this had changed the phone number of the profile we just have to contact Whatsapp and, in extreme cases, deactivate the account.


29 December 2020 (change December 29, 2020 | 16:05)

© REPRODUCTION RESERVED

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.