WhatsApp has become almost an essential medium, since most use the instant messaging application to communicate with family, friends and even for work, which is why it has become one more target for scammers and their cyber attacks, like this new one called ‘mailing’.
The new modality known as mailing is being used for the account theft of the messaging application, activating it from another device, putting your personal information at risk, as reported by the Tiktoker Charli Martell.
Through the application of short videos, Charli Martell denounced having been a victim of ‘mailing’ and the theft of his WhatsApp account
He recounted that he received a call at six in the morning in which he was held up, but hung up. Immediately he received a message that his account was being configured on another device and, he points out, a message simultaneously arrived on his voicemail and shortly following his WhatsApp account was stolen.
What is the ‘buzoneo’?
Mailing is a form of cyber attack which consists of a scammer obtaining a verification code to validate a cell phone number in the messaging app. East verification message It can be sent from a text message or through an automated call, but if the second option is not answered, the code automatically goes to voicemail, a system that is very easy to access.
Charli Martell was a victim of this type of hack and said that his telephone company has a vulnerability, because “anyone might access your mailbox”, for which he recommended TikTok users contact their telephone companies and request the deactivate your voice mail or, failing that, generate a password to access it.
The victim of mailing finally recommended taking a series of precautions to avoid the theft of the WhatsApp account, which he took from Tiktoker @paco.web, who makes videos related to technology and cybersecurity on social networks.
Paco web gives three essential tips to avoid being a victim of ‘mailing’.
Tips to prevent the theft of your WhatsApp
- Activate WhatsApp two-step authentication: To do this you must go to the account settings menu and select the two-step verification option. Then you must create a pin or password of six numbers
- Create an email exclusively to link it to your WhatsApp account: This is recommended, because currently applications like WhatsApp are linked to your email and in case your cell phone is stolen they might have access to both and have access to all your information, photos , videos, etc.
- Cancel voicemail: This is because it is currently very little used and it can be hacked if you do not have a password, a practice known as ‘mailboxing’.
The Tiktoker Paco Web emphasizes that voicemail is a vulnerable medium that can be checked from any number other than yours, so the mode of operation used to steal your WhatsApp verification code and your account is:
You might constantly receive WhatsApp confirmation code messages without you having requested them.
You will receive calls (even at dawn) in which they want to offer you credit cards or other services or apparent promotions, in order to distract you.
While they keep you busy and/or entertained on the call, they can make the WhatsApp verification message reach your voicemail, which being vulnerable can be easily accessed and steal your messaging app account.
