PTA issues security advisory for WhatsApp users to prevent hacking

WEB DESK: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a security advisory urging WhatsApp users to adopt essential safety measures to protect their accounts from hacking and cyber fraud.

In a statement on Saturday, the authority warned that cybercriminals continue to target WhatsApp accounts through unauthorised access attempts and advised users to strengthen their account security.

PTA recommended enabling Security Notifications by going to “Settings > Account > Security Notifications” and turning on the “Show Security Notifications” option. The feature alerts users whenever there is a change to their account’s security settings.

The regulator also advised users to link a secure and active email address to their WhatsApp account, saying it can help with account recovery in case of hacking or other emergencies.

In addition, PTA urged users to activate Two-Step Verification, describing it as an important layer of protection that helps prevent unauthorised access by hackers and cybercriminals.

The authority stressed that taking these simple precautions can help safeguard personal data, contacts, and digital information, while failure to do so could leave users vulnerable to cyber fraud and financial losses.