This prevents your WhatsApp from being opened, seen on another device

April 2, 2020, by Santiago Comment

If you already have a WhatsApp account and change phone, you can easily migrate the application’s chats and data to that other phone. You will only have to install the app on the new mobile, verify your phone number (by entering the numerical code that you must request by SMS or call during the initial configuration of the app) and finally restore your application data, which is normally saved in the WhatsApp cloud, and it is something that you are also asked during its configuration.

But this could also be done by a third party. It would only need access to your phone number temporarily to receive the verification code and it could restore your WhatsApp on another device to view your chats. If this happens, the only thing you will see on your mobile will be something similar to the image below. You will not be able to determine who did it or on what device your account was registered.

Two-step verification prevents that from happening. When you activate it, your account is protected by a password. Before your data can be restored to another device, you will have to enter that password or else there will be no access to the account.

To activate two-step verification, simply go to WhatsApp settings (three-dot button at the top), Account, Two-step verification. Enter the 6-digit password and optionally an email address. It is HIGHLY It is recommended to indicate a valid email to deactivate the verification in case of forgetting the password.

How to recover the account without the password

WhatsApp is always asking for the password from time to time (behavior that cannot be deactivated), precisely to prevent you from forgetting. However, if this were to happen, you should be able to request the deactivation of the password by email (from the option Forgot your Pin? During the initial configuration of WhatsApp) to regain access to your account.

Another solution is to wait six days. After that time, WhatsApp will allow you to access the account without having to enter the password. Also, if you let 30 days pass without entering the code chats and data will be deleted automatically and you will be able to create a new account.

Conclution

Although it may be annoying to have to enter the passkey from time to time, it is worth it to prevent someone from hijacking your account in the way indicated at the beginning. Indeed, you could recover the account in that case as well, even if the other person has configured their own recovery password and email (by verifying your number again, entering the verification code received by SMS or call, the access of the other person should get lost). However, as long as you do that they may have already seen your chats and calls. On the other hand, if you inherit a phone number recycled by the operator or someone else, you shouldn’t worry about having to ask the previous owner of the line for the password, something that would be absurd. With phone number control, you should still be able to force a verification of the number and take control of the account associated with it.

More information

How to know if your WhatsApp is spied on, cloned, hacked or intervened

Police can now legally spy on WhatsApp of people in Germany

How to PROTECT my cell phone from viruses, spies, interventions, etc.