Tips and tricks to protect your WhatsApp account

WhatsApp is practically all about us: we tell our lives, we send photographs and videos of everything around us and everything we do. Because of the importance it has in our lives, today we explain how to protect your WhatsApp account or what advice you should follow to prevent problems with it.

Maintaining good security on the mobile phone is essential and protect it with the different privacy options depending on the device you have, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, but there are also tips and tips that you can follow to keep your data safe and not steal Your information or your account.

Activate two-step verification

The two-step verification in WhatsApp allows you to add an extra touch of security to your account in the messaging application. What this method does is that it is not enough to verify your phone in WhatsApp but you must also enter a six-digit PIN code that will make it much more secure.

To enable two-step verification, follow a series of instructions:

  • Open WhatsApp
  • Go to Settings / Settings
  • Choose the option “Account”
  • Click on “Verification in two steps”
  • Choose the option “Activate”

WhatsApp-dos-pasos

Once you enable two-step verification, you can enter your email and it will be at that address where you will receive a link to retrieve the verification PIN code if you have forgotten it. Although it is advisable that you bet on a combination of numbers that you will remember, given the importance that this code will have in your life from now on.

As they explain from WhatsApp, if you have two-step verification activated and you don’t have your code, they will have to spend a total of seven days without using the messaging application to re-verify the number.

Protect your mobile

It will seem obvious but the more security there is on your smartphone, the more secure your WhatsApp account will be. Therefore, it is more than advisable to activate all possible screen lock options that the device allows:

  • PIN code to unlock the screen
  • Fingerprint unlock
  • Block through facial recognition
  • Iris recognition to unlock the screen
  • Unlock patterns

WhatsApp fingerprint lock

The messaging application allows, for some time, to activate the fingerprint lock . Regardless of the lock you have on the screen of your smartphone, you can activate this option and you will have to use your fingerprint to open the conversations or access the settings. This way you will have double protection on your mobile phone so that nobody can access your chats.

To activate it, follow these steps:

  • Go to WhatsApp
  • Click on the three points in the upper right corner
  • Access Settings
  • Go to Account
  • Choose Privacy
  • Go to Fingerprint Lock
  • Activate the option
  • Follow the instructions and place your finger on the fingerprint to activate it

proteger tu cuenta de WhatsApp - Bloqueo con huella

From that moment, even if your screen is unlocked you will need to use your fingerprint to access WhatsApp. And you can choose how often WhatsApp will be automatically blocked:

  • Immediately (as soon as you close it)
  • After a minute
  • After thirty minutes

This option will also allow you if you want a preview of the sender and the text in the notifications of new messages or if you prefer to keep them hidden. If you deactivate the option, you will not see who writes you or what writes you.

Do not share the verification code

Do not fall for scams or share your WhatsApp verification code with anyone. When you install the application or log in, you will receive a six-digit code on your mobile. Do not tell anyone or trust any email or application that asks for it since the messaging application will never ask you to share it.

Beware WhatsApp Web

WhatsApp Web is useful and practical when we are in the office and do not want to look at the mobile to consult our conversations, for example. But if we are using WhatsApp Web on a computer that is shared with someone, we run the risk of leaving the account open and that others can access to read our conversations.

If you have a WhatsApp account on WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp for desktop, close all sessions from your phone periodically: every day, for example, or when you have already stopped using them and want to make sure they have closed. You can do it from your mobile remotely and it only takes a few seconds:

  • Go to WhatsApp
  • Click on the three points in the upper right corner
  • Choose WhatsApp Web
  • Click on “Close all sessions”

Turn on security notifications

WhatsApp conversations are encrypted end to end with a security code that people have in that chat. If the security code changes it is because from a new phone or a new device that security chat has been accessed. And you can configure WhatsApp to notify you in that case.

  • Go to WhatsApp
  • Click on the upper right corner
  • Access Settings
  • Choose Account
  • Go to Security
  • Check the option “Show security notifications

Notificaciones de seguridad WhatsApp

Cloud Backup

You can set up a cloud backup that allows you to recover your messages, photos and conversations even if you lose your phone , steal it or change your device. But if you are concerned about privacy, you can disable the backup on Google Drive because it does not protect your messages and they are not encrypted end to end.

An encryption is applied in which Google is responsible for storing the keys and in which they remain illegible but that allows the violation of privacy in case, for example, that the authorities request the keys in case of judicial processes that affect to the user in question.

If you want more complete and secure privacy, disable the copies:

  • Go to WhatsApp
  • Choose Settings
  • Go to Settings
  • Go to Chats
  • Choose Chat Backup
  • Go to Save on Google Drive
  • Mark the option Never

Choose who can see your information

Another of the basics to protect your WhatsApp account is to choose who can see your profile picture, your connection time or your status. Check the option “only my contacts” or “nobody” if you want to prevent strangers from having information about you.

To do this, follow these steps:

  • Go to WhatsApp
  • Open Settings
  • Go to Privacy
  • Access Who can see my personal information

You can change four options:

  • Last time
  • Profile picture
  • Info
  • State

In each of the options you can check:

  • Everybody
  • My contacts
  • No one

Choose one of the last two so that strangers can not see what you upload to WhatsApp if they are not in your phonebook and have your phone stored.

Proteger la cuenta de WhatsApp

Block groups

Not allowing anyone to add you in groups is also a practical way to protect your WhatsApp account and even your smartphone against viruses or spam. Recently, you can choose who has permission to add you to WhatsApp groups . If you are added to one, you will receive an invitation in private and you can choose whether or not to accept it. But you won’t enter any group with strangers if you don’t want to.

  • Go to WhatsApp
  • Access Settings
  • Choose Privacy
  • Go to Groups
  • Choose in “Who can add me to the groups”

You will have three options to choose from:

  • Everybody
  • My contacts
  • My contacts except

If you want nobody to add you without authorization , you can do so:

  • Check the My contacts option except …
  • Open the WhatsApp chat list
  • Press the check button in the upper right corner
  • Confirm with the green button on the screen