NEW YORK (Kashmir English): An important security alert has been issued for WhatsApp users, advising them to check the list of devices linked to their accounts, as WhatsApp might still be active on an old or irrelevant device.
WhatsApp’s “Linked Devices” feature allows users to access their accounts on devices other than their primary phone, such as computers, tablets, or additional smartphones. Users can link up to four devices simultaneously alongside their primary phone.
Devices linked via this feature remain functional even when the primary phone is offline; this means that if a user links WhatsApp to an office computer, a shared laptop, or an old device and forgets to log out, that device could remain connected to the account for an extended period.
iPhone users can access this by opening WhatsApp and navigating to Settings > Linked Devices, while Android users should tap the three dots in the top-right corner and select the Linked Devices option.
Here, users will see a list of all devices linked to their account. If an unrecognized device appears, it can be selected and logged out.
According to experts, the presence of an unknown device does not necessarily prove that the WhatsApp account has been hacked; the user might have linked the device themselves in the past and simply forgotten about it.
However, if someone else gains access to the user’s phone, they could link a new device to the account using the WhatsApp device-linking process.
Similarly, in cases of cyber fraud, attempts may be made to deceive users into linking an unfamiliar device to their WhatsApp account.
Security researchers have identified a scheme known as “GhostPairing,” where users are tricked—via fake links or web pages into completing the WhatsApp device-linking process; in reality, this grants an attacker’s device access to the account.
Users are advised not to enter WhatsApp pairing or verification codes at the behest of a stranger and to avoid authorizing the linking of any device they did not personally initiate a request to link.
To further secure your account, it is recommended to enable two-step verification, use biometric security on your phone, keep WhatsApp updated, and always log out after using shared or office computers.
Therefore, if you haven’t checked your WhatsApp “Linked Devices” list in a long time, take a few seconds to review it now so that any unknown device can be immediately removed from your account.
