The Civil Guard has recently alerted in a publication on its social networks about the danger of the scam of the 6 digits in the WhatsApp messaging application. An attack used by cybercriminals when they try to steal access to service accounts.
In these cases, cybercriminals send a message to the Internet user through WhatsApp in which they ask that they share a six-digit code that has just arrived by SMS. Sometimes, they carry out the attack from the contact of an acquaintance of the victim who has already fallen into the trap. Many cases have also been detected in which criminals impersonate the application’s technical team or companies that are running some kind of contest or raffle.
If you receive an SMS like this
DON’T ANSWER IT!!!
It is the message with the verification code for the installation. If you provide it to a third party, they will control your account on their device and with it, access to all your groups and contacts.#NoPiques pic.twitter.com/oDjhe9W2S4
— Civil Guard ???????? (@guardiacivil) February 11, 2023
Be that as it may, the goal is always the same: to convince the user to pass on the happy six-digit code, which is generated when a user tries to open a WhatsApp account on a new terminal. Without access to these numbers, which the platform itself sends as a security mechanism, it is not possible to enter the application.
However, if the user does not take notice and ends up sharing them, they will be opening the door for the criminal to take control of the application. However, there is a very simple way by which the user can avoid it.
The key so that it does not happen to you
Like many other applications, WhatsApp has an extra security mechanism called double factor authentication or two-step verification. Thanks to it, the user will be able to configure a second six-digit code that will be essential to access the application when logging into a new terminal. In case you forget this PIN, you can ask the system to share an email to recover it.
The configuration is very simple. You just have to open the ‘app’ and go to Settings or Configuration depending on the mobile operating system. After this you have to touch Account > Two-step verification > Activate. Finally, you have to enter a six-digit PIN and confirm it.
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