It is surprisingly easy for someone—whether it’s your partner, family members, friends, or colleagues—to access your WhatsApp chats on their own devices without your knowledge.
The “linked devices” feature on Meta’s WhatsApp allows you to send and receive messages on your desktop, laptop, or iPad using a web app. This feature also lets you link another phone, as long as it’s not already running the app, Forbes reported.
If someone has access to your unlocked phone or knows your passcode, they can quickly link their device to your WhatsApp without you realizing it. Fortunately, detecting and stopping this unauthorized access is straightforward.
Steps to Detect and Remove Unrecognized Devices:
Open WhatsApp and Go to “Settings”:
– Tap on “Linked Devices.”
Review Linked Devices:
– Check the list of linked devices and make sure you recognize all of them.
– If you see any devices that you haven’t linked or don’t recognize, log out from them immediately.
This method of linking devices applies to most messaging apps that use a similar system rather than a trusted device architecture.
Additional Ways to Protect Your WhatsApp Chats:
Locked Chats:
– Use the app’s “locked chats” feature to set a different passcode for your most sensitive messages, keeping them in a separate folder.
Regular Checks:
– WhatsApp advises users to “check your linked devices regularly to review all devices linked to your account.”
– While a linked device will be dropped if it remains inactive for about a month, it’s easy for someone to relink it if you don’t keep checking.
By following these steps and regularly reviewing your linked devices, you can ensure your WhatsApp chats remain private and secure.
Source: Emmanuel Oti
