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More than three-in-four Canadian WhatsApp users (76%) say they rely on the application to send text messages “every day” or “a few days a week.” In the online survey of a representative national sample, 45% of Canadians say they use WhatsApp, including 68% of those aged 18-to-34 and 55% of Ontarians. Vancouver, BC – Just over two-in-five Canadians who rely on WhatsApp have never encountered one of four different setbacks while using the instant messaging application, a new Research Co. > Inform relatives and friends about the hacking and urge them not to respond to any messages coming from your number on WhatsApp.The vast majority of messages received on the app (84%) are personal, while fewer than one-in-five (16%) are work-related. > Send an email to the technical support of WhatsApp and mention the following text: "Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account." Provide your phone number in the following format: +9715xxxxxxxx. > Attempt to remove and reinstall WhatsApp at different times of the day. The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority on Thursday put out an advisory with the following recommendations: What can you do to recover your WhatsApp account if you've been locked out? Unfortunately, the app doesn't have sufficient information to identify the individual who is attempting to verify the WhatsApp account, which is what enables hackers to con people out of their accounts. Without this code, any user attempting to verify your number can’t complete the verification process and use your phone number on WhatsApp." "If someone is trying to take over your account, they need the SMS verification code sent to your phone number to do so. "You should never share your WhatsApp verification code with others," it says.
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While it's possible that well-meaning users mistype a number when trying to register their own numbers, WhatsApp warns that this can also happen when someone attempts to take over your account. In order to protect your account, the popular messaging app sends a push notification with a verification code whenever someone enters a phone number to request the registration code.
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WhatsApp's terms of use specifically warn users against sharing this code with anyone. Unfortunately, as soon as users share this number, the hackers have all they need to access your account and block you from it. WhatsApp users have been receiving messages from people who claim an error and a request to share a six digit verification code sent by text.
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