New WhatsApp scam lets hackers sneak into your account
There's a new scam called "GhostPairing" making the rounds on WhatsApp. Hackers are using it to hijack accounts—no password or SIM swap needed.
They trick people through the app's device pairing feature, quietly adding their own browsers as trusted devices.
The scam spreads when compromised accounts message their contacts.
How does GhostPairing actually work?
You might get a message from a friend with a link to what looks like a Facebook viewer, asking for your phone number.
Once you enter it, hackers use WhatsApp's device linking system to generate a numeric pairing code, which they show you on the fake page and ask you to enter in WhatsApp as part of a verification step.
That's how they get access.
What can you do to stay safe?
If you enter the code, hackers can read your chats in real time and pretend to be you.
To protect yourself, regularly check Linked Devices in your WhatsApp settings and log out of anything unfamiliar.
Turning on Two-Step Verification is also a smart move for extra security.