Three biggest WhatsApp mistakes you’re making – and how to stop them

WHATSAPP users are making huge mistakes every day – are you one of them?

We've rounded up some of the most common blunders you might be guilty of.

1

Don't send anyone your WhatsApp code

There's a clever scam you need to be aware of.

The attack revolves around the six-digit verification code that WhatsApp gives out when you want to regain access to your account.

It also involves a hacker taking control of one of your contact's WhatsApp accounts and messaging you pretending to be them.

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The hacker will message pretending to be your friend around the same time you get a text or email from WhatsApp with a verification code that the hacker has requested by pretending to be you.

This code is only given when you try and make changes to your account.

The hacker - posing as your friend - will pretend they've accidentally asked for the verification code to be sent to your number and will ask you to send it over.

You should never share the six-digit code with anyone.

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If you do, the hacker will be able to take over your account.

You'll no longer have access to your account and the hacker can try and scam your friends and read your private messages.

If you do get a suspicious message from a friend, try ringing them to see if you can talk to them in person and verify what is going on.

Disable media auto-saving

Make sure your WhatsApp isn't saving all media files to your phone storage.

Open WhatsApp, click "Settings" and then "Storage and Data".

Then click "Chats" and turn off a toggle called "Save to Camera Roll".

You can also stop the app downloading media from individual chats.

Simply go on the desired chat, click on its title at the top and change the settings via the "Save to Camera Roll" option.

Set up two-factor verification

You should turn on two-step verification right now.

It's an extra step for verifying your phone number, to help keep hackers out.

Hackers regularly try to break into WhatsApp accounts.

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To turn on two-step verification, go to Settings > Account and toggle the setting to On.

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