Bhubaneswar: An advisory on phishing meant to caution Odisha netizens, particularly the WhatsApp users, was issued by state Electronics and Information Technology department Tuesday.
According to an official source, hackers usually target people through WhatsApp voice calls and suspicious links on the social media, including SMS service. Unethical hackers can be kept at bay by users through proper precautionary measures without uninstalling the app, stated the E&IT department.
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Taking to its Twitter handle, the department wrote, “The Department has issued an advisory on #WhatsApp phishing. Hackers target victims via WhatsApp voice call or suspicious link on social media, SMS, WhatsApp. By adopting proper precautionary measures, hackers can be kept at bay without uninstalling the app.”
How hackers target users:
- Hacker targets victim with WhatsApp voice call or a suspicious link on social media, SMS, WhatsApp etc.
- Once call is received or link is clicked, device’s WhatsApp gets temporarily defaced.
- Messages can then be sent from the defaced WhatsApp to others, often asking for money or favours.
- Then a message is sent to contacts of the defaced WhatsApp claiming the victim has a new contact number. A phishing call is then placed from the alleged new number.
Guidelines to protect account:
- Do not panic or uninstall WhatsApp.
- Block the suspicious number from which the request is coming.
- Do not click on suspicious links even from known people.
- Do not respond to such suspicious messages asking for money or agree to such requests.
- Do not receive WhatsApp voice calls from unknown numbers. If you are aware that you have been hacked, broadcast a warning message to your contacts not to respond to such requests sent from your WhatsApp account.
PNN