In the era of globalized information, it is almost obvious that protecting your data and privacy is an almost impossible mission according to some experts, especially if you take into account the amount of false information that reaches all users of software that are connected to the networks. Everything becomes even more serious when we take into account that applications such as WhatsApp or the version WhatsApp Web are owned by private companies that produce this type of software
However, some security measures can be taken to avoid falling into the hackers' network and having your security and privacy violated in this application. In these cases, it is necessary to be open to understanding the culture of the digital age and, through learning, become literate in this area, which demands much more from the user than simply being literate. Therefore, it is necessary to have a lot of flexibility and a sense of security to avoid the scams that have been constant and through various means.
Information from applications with cutting-edge encryption, such as WhatsApp, can also be hacked by the software company's own employees, who can hide behind the facade of collaborators to acquire important information and use it for whatever illicit purposes they desire. In this situation, there is not much that can be done, as these are problems on a larger scale that need to be resolved within the managing company itself.
Differences between a hacker and a cracker
It is very common to watch the news and come across news sensationalists who portray crimes committed on the Internet by experts, but erroneously say in the headline that it is hackers who commit such crimes, when in fact people who use knowledge of the Internet to commit illegal acts are called crackers. Thus, not every hacker is a cracker, but every cracker is a hacker.
But the main thing to understand in this context is that by spreading this perspective that every hacker is a criminal, they end up stigmatizing a professional category that is so vital to maintaining security even at a national level. Therefore, in every area it is necessary to have a certain level of knowledge so as not to end up fostering a generalization that always harms people in this category who work within the law.
Main ways for a hacker to obtain users' personal information
A well-known story is that of the Trojan horse, which is a symbol of the end of the Trojan War, where the Greeks gave the Trojans a wooden horse hollow inside as a gift, but this horse was filled with Greek soldiers who waited until nightfall to attack the city of Troy. This is why the maxim that a Greek gift is something bad is so well-known and used, very different from what a real gift is.
It is very common for users and hackers to call some links Trojan horses, as these, disguised as various types of content, make users spontaneously enter their personal data to obtain a non-existent benefit. In other cases, the link comes with a virus and the user only has to click on the link to give permission for the invaders to access their device.
That's why you need to be very careful when clicking not only on links, but also on files that, disguised as you, can cause a lot of damage to the lives of those who fall for these scams. These hackers can pretend to be you and actually get real benefits such as emergency aid, which has had many beneficiaries diverted precisely because their data was stolen previously.
Risks of using proprietary software like WhatsApp
When a user starts using any privately licensed application, he or she is almost obliged to accept the terms and conditions of the application, but almost no consumer cares to read such terms, which are huge and in small print. And so we never know where our data is going and whether it is really being protected as the application guarantees.
Personal contact information obtained from owners who should protect user information can be the guiding thread for a hacker to research and choose the most profitable targets for their illegal business. In this case, there is not much that can be done because all people in one way or another end up being held hostage by companies in order to have some vital services in their daily lives.
However, always be wary of people who contact you pretending to be a company to obtain data that they were unable to obtain by hacking other servers. It is possible to have your cloned whatsapp and still continue using it on your device as if nothing was happening, and this is only possible when the hacker manages to access the security code sent to the WhatsApp registration number.
Ways to protect yourself from hackers on WhatsApp
A very interesting way to protect yourself from hacking is to be more selective about the applications you use, always seeking to find out from older users about the main ways to gain access to an account that should be personal and for what purposes your account and personal information are used. Keep in mind that hackers always carry out their hacking to obtain some lucrative benefit, which in most cases is related to making money.
We need protect yourself from the zap lock, be suspicious of other people you know asking for a favor or money even if this is not your usual behavior. The best thing to do is always contact the person making the request and confirm with them whether or not the transaction is being requested. This way, you can avoid many initiatives by these criminals, who are so categorical and even professional in the crimes they commit.
Finally, always look for the source of any information received. You can watch videos that are available for free on the internet to find out which links are clearly viruses, as some characteristics can be identified before anything else, making it possible to be a safer person when faced with such initiatives.