Latest news with #SeifallahJedidi
Gulf News
18-04-2025
- Gulf News
WhatsApp users in UAE warned of hacking risks: How to secure your account
Dubai: Messaging app users in the UAE are being warned to be vigilant about the security of their WhatsApp accounts as cybercriminals are increasingly targeting the platform for illicit activities, according to a leading cybersecurity expert. Hackers can use compromised accounts for various criminal purposes, including spam distribution and complex scam schemes, said Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel, META, at Kaspersky. Here's how they do it: Cybercriminals employ two primary methods to gain unauthorised access to WhatsApp accounts. One approach involves leveraging the 'Linked devices' feature to add another device to an existing account. In this scenario, the legitimate user may remain unaware that the attacker is also accessing their conversations. The second method involves re-registering the WhatsApp account on the criminal's device, effectively locking the original user out of their account. 'Messengers are a private space, as they often contain personal information about our lives and relationships with family and friends. They can also contain information about work and, in some cases, confidential information,' said Jedidi. 'If you notice any unusual activity, such as receiving replies to messages you didn't send, or if your friends complain about strange messages coming from your account, it's important to protect your privacy immediately,' Jedidi added. To safeguard their WhatsApp accounts from potential hacking, users are advised to implement the following key security measures: Enable two-step verification: Activate this feature in WhatsApp settings (Settings → Account → Two-step verification) and remember the six-digit PIN you create, as it's different from the one-time code. Never share your PIN or one-time codes: Scammers only request these details. Consider using passkeys: WhatsApp recently introduced support for passkeys (Settings → Account → Passkeys). This secure option uses biometric authentication and stores a long cryptographic key instead of PIN codes. However, be mindful of its convenience if you frequently switch devices between Android and iOS. Set up a backup email address: Ensure you have a recovery email linked to your account (Settings → Account → Email address). Strengthen your email security: If you've already added an email address, ensure your email account has a strong, unique password. Consider using a password manager like Kaspersky Password Manager for secure storage. Enable two-factor authentication for your email: This adds an extra layer of security to your email account. Be wary of SIM swap scams: Contact your mobile carrier, preferably in person, to confirm that no unauthorised SIM cards have been issued for your number. Also, check for any suspicious call-forwarding settings. Inquire about additional security measures for your SIM card, such as requiring your physical presence or an extra password for SIM-related actions. Jedidi also said that measures within WhatsApp are most effective when the device is protected from malware. They recommend installing comprehensive security solutions on all devices. By taking these proactive steps, WhatsApp users in the UAE can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to cybercriminals and ensure the security of their personal and professional communications.
Biz Bahrain
17-04-2025
- Biz Bahrain
Kaspersky sheds light on children's cyber secrets
According to the findings from a recent Kaspersky survey*, among respondents from the UAE, more than half (53%) of children aged 11-17 years old hide their online activities from their parents and other grown-ups. To do this, 29% of youngsters set passwords on all their devices, while 19% clear the browsing history after each access to the Internet so that other family members couldn't check what they were doing online. And 18% prefer going online when their parents are not around. Among those who tend to keep their online activities a secret, a significant number (55%) of teenagers don't want their parents to know how much time they actually spend on the Internet, or which websites they frequent (35%). Even more worryingly, nearly half (40%) conceal information about visiting websites with aggressive or adult content, and 33% about watching content intended for adults. What children prefer their parents don't know about 'It is understandable that parents may not be able to monitor all the online activities of their children. However, it is not necessary to do so. Instead, it is more important to build and maintain close relationships with children. Regularly chatting with them about their experiences, including those related to their digital lives, is essential. Creating a communication strategy that allows them to reach out when they have concerns is also crucial,' comments Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Kaspersky. 'Applying parental control is not showing distrust to your child; it's a sensible precaution with which you can, among other things, protect the device and the data on it. It allows parents to control which sites their children visit and which games they play, as well as disallowing file downloads, blocking access to content on unwanted topics and preventing the disclosure of confidential information'. Kaspersky shares the following tips that can help to protect children's digital experience: • By staying informed about the latest threats and actively monitoring their children's online activities, parents can create a safer online environment for their children. • It's crucial for parents to have open communication with their children about the potential risks they may encounter online and to enforce strict guidelines to ensure their safety. • To secure your child from downloading any malicious files during their online experience, we advise to install a trusted security solution on their device. • With the right tools such as Kaspersky's digital parenting app Safe Kids, parents can effectively safeguard their children against cyber threats in the digital space. *The survey was conducted by Toluna research agency at the request of Kaspersky. The study sample included 10000 online interviews (5000 parent-child pairs, with children aged 3 to 17 years) in 5 countries: Türkiye, South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Gulf Business
03-04-2025
- Gulf Business
7 ways to ensure your WhatsApp account doesn't get hacked
Image credit: Getty Images WhatsApp accounts are a popular target for cybercriminals, not only for jealous spouses and nosy coworkers but also for malicious actors. Stolen WhatsApp accounts are frequently used for various criminal activities, including spam distribution, scams, and other illicit schemes. Cybercriminals are constantly seeking WhatsApp accounts and use various methods to gain unauthorised access. How cybercriminals can gain control of your account Cybercriminals can take control of a WhatsApp account in two ways: by adding another device to the existing account using the 'Linked devices' feature, or by re-registering the account on their own device, as though the user had bought a new phone. Read- In the first case, the user can continue using WhatsApp normally, but the criminals also have access to all recent conversations. In the second case, the user loses access to their personal account. When attempting to log in, WhatsApp notifies them that the account is already in use on another device. The attackers can then control the account but won't have access to past conversations. Protecting your privacy 'Messengers are a private space, often containing personal details about our lives, relationships, work, and sometimes confidential information. If you notice unusual activity, such as replies to messages you didn't send or your friends complain about strange messages coming from your account, it's important to take immediate action to protect your privacy,' says Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel at META, Kaspersky. While instructions are available on what to do if your WhatsApp account is compromised, here are the key steps to prevent your account from being hacked: Enable two-step verification and memorize your PIN — it's not a one-time code. • Go to Settings → Account → Two-step verification. Never share your PIN or one-time registration codes with anyone. Only scammers will ask for these details. Enable passkeys for additional security. If activated (Settings → Account → Passkeys), you'll use biometric authentication to log in, and your smartphone will store a cryptographic key instead of relying on PIN codes. This option is highly secure but may not be ideal if you frequently change devices or switch between Android and iOS. Set up a backup email address for account recovery: Settings → Account → Email address. If you've already added an email address, log in and change your email password to something strong and unique. Use a password manager, like Kaspersky Password Manager, to store it securely. Enable two-factor authentication for your email account. Avoid falling victim to a SIM swap scam : • Contact your mobile carrier — preferably in person — and verify that no duplicate SIM cards have been issued for your number. Also, ensure there's no unauthorized call forwarding set up on your account. Cancel any suspicious changes and inquire about additional security measures for your SIM card. These may include requiring your presence for SIM-related actions, adding extra authentication passwords, or other security options. These measures vary by country and mobile carrier. Any security features within WhatsApp will be ineffective if your smartphone or computer is infected with malware. Therefore, install comprehensive protection on all your devices.
Biz Bahrain
20-03-2025
- Biz Bahrain
How to prevent WhatsApp account from being hacked: Kaspersky recommendations
User's messaging app account might be of interest not only to jealous spouses and nosy coworkers, but also to cybercriminals. Stolen WhatsApp accounts are used for various types of criminal activity, ranging from spam distribution to sophisticated scam schemes. Cybercriminals constantly look for WhatsApp accounts and use various methods to gain access to them. There are two ways cybercriminals can gain control of a WhatsApp account: they can add another device to an existing account using the 'Linked devices' feature, or they can re-register the account on their own device as if the user had bought a new phone. In the first case, the user continues to use WhatsApp as usual, but the criminals also have access to all recent conversations. In the second case, the user loses access to their personal account. When trying to log in, WhatsApp notifies him that the account is already in use on another device, and the attackers can then control the account but not the past conversations. 'Messengers are a private space, as they often contain personal information about our lives and relationships with family and friends. They can also contain information about work and, in some cases, confidential information. If you notice any unusual activity, such as receiving replies to messages that you didn't send, or if your friends complain about strange messages coming from your account, it's important to take steps to protect your privacy immediately', comments Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel, META, at Kaspersky. While you can check instruction on what to do in case WhatsApp account was already compromised, here are the key steps on how to avoid WhatsApp account to be hacked: • Enable two-step verification in WhatsApp and memorize your PIN — it's not a one-time code. To do this, go to Settings → Account → Two-step verification. • Never, ever share your PIN or one-time registration codes with anyone. Only scammers ask for these details. • WhatsApp recently introduced support for passkeys. If you enable this option (Settings → Account → Passkeys), logging in to your account will require biometric authentication, and instead of PIN codes, your smartphone will store a long cryptographic key. This is a very secure option, but it may not be convenient if you frequently change devices and switch between Android and iOS. • Set up a backup email address for account recovery: Settings → Account → Email address. • If you've already added an email address, log in to your email account and change your password to a strong, unique one. To store it securely, use a password manager, such as Kaspersky Password Manager. • Enable two-factor authentication for your email account. • Make sure you haven't fallen victim to a SIM swap scam. Contact your mobile carrier — preferably in person — and verify that no duplicate SIM cards have recently been issued for your number. Also, make sure there's no unauthorized call-forwarding set up on your number. Cancel any suspicious changes and ask the staff about additional security measures for your SIM card. These may include prohibiting SIM-related actions without your being present, an extra password required for authentication, or other protections. Available security measures vary significantly by country and mobile carrier.
TECHx
19-03-2025
- TECHx
How to Protect Your WhatsApp Account
Your WhatsApp account may be targeted not only by jealous spouses and curious coworkers but also by cybercriminals. Stolen WhatsApp accounts are commonly used for a variety of illegal activities, including spam distribution and sophisticated scam operations. Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to gain access to WhatsApp accounts, employing various methods to do so. There are two main ways cybercriminals can take control of a WhatsApp account: they can either add another device to an existing account using the 'Linked devices' feature or re-register the account on their own device, as if the user had acquired a new phone. In the first case, the user can continue using WhatsApp as usual, but the criminals also have access to all recent conversations. In the second scenario, the user loses access to their personal account, and when attempting to log in, WhatsApp notifies them that the account is already active on another device, giving the attackers control of the account—though without access to past conversations. 'Messengers are a private space, often containing personal information about our lives, relationships, work, and, in some cases, confidential data. If you notice any unusual activity, such as receiving replies to messages you didn't send, or if friends complain about strange messages coming from your account, it's crucial to take immediate action to protect your privacy,' says Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel, META, at Kaspersky. While you can follow instructions for recovering a compromised WhatsApp account, here are the key steps to help prevent your WhatsApp account from being hacked: Enable two-step verification on WhatsApp and remember your PIN—it's not a one-time code. To do this, go to Settings → Account → Two-step verification . . Never share your PIN or one-time registration codes with anyone. Only scammers will ask for these details. WhatsApp now supports passkeys. By enabling this option ( Settings → Account → Passkeys ), logging in will require biometric authentication, and your smartphone will store a long cryptographic key instead of a PIN. This is a highly secure option, though it may not be convenient if you frequently switch devices or change between Android and iOS. ), logging in will require biometric authentication, and your smartphone will store a long cryptographic key instead of a PIN. This is a highly secure option, though it may not be convenient if you frequently switch devices or change between Android and iOS. Set up a backup email address for account recovery: Settings → Account → Email address . . If you've already linked an email address, log in to your email account and change the password to something strong and unique. Consider using a password manager, like Kaspersky Password Manager, to securely store it. Enable two-factor authentication for your email account. Protect yourself from SIM swap scams. Contact your mobile carrier—preferably in person—and confirm that no duplicate SIM cards have been issued for your number. Also, verify there's no unauthorized call forwarding set up. If you notice any suspicious changes, cancel them immediately and ask about additional security measures for your SIM card, such as requiring an extra password for SIM-related actions or other protections. Security measures vary by country and carrier. Any security features in WhatsApp won't be effective if your smartphone or computer is infected with malware. To safeguard your devices, install comprehensive protection like Kaspersky Premium on all your devices. During Ramadan, those who purchase Kaspersky Premium will receive a 30% discount, plus a complimentary 1-month OSN Plus subscription for unlimited access to a vast library of top series and movies in stunning 4K—completely ad-free, anytime, on any device.
