4 Main Ways to Know If WhatsApp Is Being Hacked, Read the Signs!

Hello everyone, after a year of inactivity in the blogging world due to my busy schedule, I am finally starting again today. Hopefully, I can continue in the future.

Okay, today I will share information about the four main ways to find out if WhatsApp is being tapped. Want to know more? Keep scrolling down.

The Four main ways to find out if WhatsApp is being tapped are: check the Linked Devices list, observe strange notifications/activities (messages read/sent by themselves, unfamiliar statuses), be wary of OTPs that arrive unsolicited or accounts that suddenly log out, and monitor battery/data spikes and suspicious applications on your phone.

Here are the characteristics and quick checks that can be followed practically.

Characteristics of WhatsApp being hacked

• Messages marked as read without ever being opened, messages sent by themselves, or WhatsApp statuses appearing without ever being created are strong signals of unauthorized access.
• Suddenly appearing “online” when not in use, or suddenly logging out of the account indicates an attempt to log in on another device.
• Receiving WhatsApp verification codes/OTPs without requesting them indicates that someone else is trying to register with that number—never share the code.
• Unusually high battery and data usage, accompanied by unfamiliar apps running in the background, may indicate the presence of spyware on the device.

Method 1 — Check Linked Devices

• Open WhatsApp > Settings > Linked Devices to review all connected sessions; log out of any unrecognized devices.
• WhatsApp supports up to four linked devices; enable push notifications so you can immediately remove unfamiliar devices when a new link is detected.
• Device linking can also occur via “link with phone number” on the Web/Windows; be wary of sessions you never approved.

Method 2 — Monitor security notifications and codes

• Each end-to-end encrypted chat has a “security code” (QR/60 digits) for verification; the code may change when reinstalling, changing devices, or adding/removing linked devices.
• Enable “Security notifications” in Settings > Account > Security notifications to receive alerts when a contact's security code changes.
• A change in the security code itself is not proof of hacking, but it is worth checking, especially if it coincides with the linking of an unknown device.

Method 3 — Be aware of OTPs and log out of your account

• If you receive an OTP without requesting it, it means someone has entered your number into WhatsApp; as long as the code is not shared, the takeover cannot be completed.
• WhatsApp can only be used with one number on one primary phone; when registration is successful on another device, other sessions will automatically log out—an important sign to watch out for.
• Use and manage Two-Step Verification (6-digit PIN) to prevent takeover attempts even if the OTP is known to another party.

Method 4 — Audit battery/data and applications

• A spike in battery/data usage and the presence of suspicious applications that have been newly installed (unbeknownst to you) can be signs of background data recording/transfer.
• Update your system and applications, and revoke permissions/uninstall unknown applications to cut off potential eavesdropping at the device level.

Quick steps if you suspect you've been hacked

• Log out of all linked devices: Settings > Linked Devices > select device > Log out; repeat for all unrecognized devices.
• Enable Two-Step Verification and add a recovery email: Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification.
• Turn on Security Notifications to receive alerts when your security code changes, then verify if necessary.
• If you receive an OTP without requesting it, ignore it and do not share it; this is usually the result of a mistyped number or a takeover attempt.

When to verify the security code?

• For sensitive chats, compare the security code in your contact info to ensure the session is properly encrypted, especially after a device change.
• This verification is an additional precaution, not mandatory, and helps ensure there is no interception between devices.

Important note

• Security code changes often occur due to reinstallation, changing phones, or linking/unlinking devices and do not automatically mean you have been hacked.
• Reviewing Linked Devices and enabling 2FA are the two most effective steps to detect and prevent intruders on your WhatsApp account.