It is very likely that you are suspicious and need to know how to know if whatsapp is spying on me. Whether it's a classmate or workmate, your partner, etc. In any case, this is an attack on your right to privacy, a crime and could lead to a conviction. In addition, if it is your partner, it could even be considered psychological abuse, since it is for exercising control over you due to mistrust, jealousy, etc.
You should know that there are a large number of spyware or malware that is sold or can be downloaded for free on the net and that is easily installed on an Android mobile device, even if you do not have technical knowledge. They are quite easy to set up. On the other hand, there are also other WhatsApp spy methods. Therefore, it is not so strange that these things happen…
Can WhatsApp spy on me?
This question has already been answered before, The answer is yes. Can you spy on WhatsApp and even many other functions can be controlled. For example, listening to conversations remotely through the loudspeaker, seeing what is happening through the camera, accessing SMS, emails, and much more. All of this poses a significant risk to privacy, whether the espionage comes from someone close to you or from a cybercriminal who wants to obtain data for whatever reason.
Even the supposed encryption level of Whatsapp that Meta (previously Facebook) has put is not a guarantee of anything. This type of encryption would only prevent one type of attack, such as MitM or similar types that try to intercept traffic. But, in this case, since it is not in plain text, nothing can be obtained.
Surely you have seen some news about some very mediatic cases such as Pegasus software from the Israeli company NSO that can easily spy on this instant messaging app. And it is not the only malicious software or code for these purposes, there are many, some easy to find and download, others that are sold through the dark web.
How can WhatsApp be hacked?
There are many ways to spy on WhatsApp conversations, from some really easy ones that don't need any other software, to the most complex ones that require access to the phone and installation of Trojans. Some of the most common are:
- Whatsapp web: It is one of the ways, using the web service of this instant messaging service. And it is that, if you have a web session open in your browser and it is not closed, anyone with access to your computer could access it and see all the conversations, contacts and shared files. And it is not even necessary for them to physically access your PC, it can also be done remotely, carrying out an attack that takes advantage of certain vulnerabilities to penetrate.
- with spyware: Like I said, there are plenty of free or paid malware and spyware projects available that you can download as infected files or an .apk that someone could exploit to install on your mobile device inadvertently. leave your cell phone unattended. It's a matter of seconds... Another option is called smishing.
- Impersonation or duplicate account: It is possible that your Whatsapp account has been stolen and that they may now be controlling the service without your consent. The other contacts will not be aware that it is not you and will be able to access any data. This is achieved by phishing (asking you for the Whastapp access code saying that they are from the courier company itself, or that they have sent it to you by mistake and they need it...), or by duplicating the SIM card.
How to know if WhatsApp is spying on me
It is very likely that if someone is spying on us, we are not aware of it, since it is difficult to detect this. For that reason, you have to look for signs to be able to answer the question how to know if someone is spying on me on WhatsApp. The most common signs may be the following:
- Noticing suspicious things in the system or in the app itself. For example, that it restarts unexpectedly, that the app closes without you having done it, that there are changes that you have not made, notifications sound and none appear, they send you messages of attempted login or codes and you do not you've been, "can't verify this phone because that number has been registered on another device" messages, etc.
- You may also notice that the battery drains faster than usual, or that during the night, while you sleep, there is a big jump in the consumption of your battery.
- As with the battery, suspicious background activity can also be detected with temperature. If you are not using your mobile and you notice that it is hot when you pick it up, it is likely that you have malicious software.
- If you see that there is an active session that is not yours, it is likely that someone has WhatsApp web open. To check the active sessions, go to WhatsApp> Click on the three points> WhatsApp web> look at the sessions, if there is one active that is not yours, close it.
Tips so that they do not spy on you on WhatsApp
Lastly, and most importantly, to try to make things difficult for bad guys, you can follow these tips on your Android mobile device, preventing WhatsApp from spying on you easily:
- Never leave your phone unattended, or use a lock password or pattern that the person you suspect doesn't know. It is convenient to change periodically in case you have managed to find out again. Another option is to use facial recognition, iris or fingerprint for the lock, so only you can unlock it.
- If you suspect that you have any malicious code installed, reset your phone to factory settings. Antivirus software can sometimes detect this type of malware, but not always, so a scan is no guarantee.
- Do not pay attention to emails, SMS, or messages of any other type asking for your data, pins, passwords, or account credentials.
- Review the list of installed apps, keep a record, and if you see any suspicious that you haven't installed or wasn't there before, be suspicious and uninstall.
- Always sign out of Whatsapp Web when you're not using it.
And finally, if you discover that someone is spying on you, you must report it to the authorities. Don't let it go, it could get worse... from abuse, to sextortion, etc.