Nationwide warning issued over rising WhatsApp account hacks in Pakistan

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Pakistan has released a notification for a nationwide cyber alert after a sharp surge in WhatsApp accounts getting hacked across the country. Your WhatsApp Could Be Hijacked Today and the National CERT Issues Urgent Warning on WhatsApp Account Hacking Surge.

Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) warned that these attacks are active, widespread, and affecting users from all walks of life. Importantly, hackers are not exploiting flaws in WhatsApp itself. Instead, they are heavily relying on social manipulative tactic, a tactic that design to manipulate human behavior rather than software weaknesses.

What Hackers do for WhatsApp Accounts Hacking?

As per National CERT, criminals use various deceptive methods to hijack WhatsApp accounts. They can easily encourage the users to do the tricks they actually use. These methods include

1.        They can trick the users to share one-time passcodes (OTPs)

2.        Manipulating call-forwarding settings

3.        Sending phishing links, and circulating malicious QR codes.

Once hackers gain access, they impersonate victims, scam their contacts, steal private conversations, and spread harmful content. As a result, a single compromised account can quickly harm dozens of people.

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WhatsApp Hacking Risks Go Beyond Personal Chats

The advisory highlights serious consequences of WhatsApp account hijacking in Pakistan. Victims can face various issues such as

1. Identity theft
2. Financial fraud
3. Data leaks
4. Reputational damage
5. Privacy violations.

Moreover, organisations that rely on WhatsApp for business communication face added risks, including exposure of sensitive information and internal fraud.

National CERT confirmed that all WhatsApp versions are affected, including Android, iOS, WhatsApp Business, Web, and Desktop. Accounts without two-step verification remain especially vulnerable.

How to Protect Your WhatsApp from Hackers?

To stay safe, National CERT urges users to:

1. Enable two-step verification with a recovery email
2. Regularly review linked devices
3. Never share OTPs, PINs, or QR codes
4. Avoid urgent messages asking for money or codes

If hackers compromise an account, users should reinstall WhatsApp, re-verify their number, and reset security settings immediately.

Stay Alert as Cyber Threats Evolve

National CERT keeps on giving advises to the users to warn contacts, report incidents to WhatsApp, and monitor financial activity. As cyber criminals adapt the things quickly, staying alert is still the strongest defense against WhatsApp account hijacking in Pakistan.