What can happen if you walk into a fake link for whatsapp? They could steal your passwords, sneak in a virus, or even take control of your device. Although there are filters and security measures, the truth is that hackers, in many cases, manage to bypass it to reach the victim.
Links to avoid on WhatsApp
The fact that it is such a widely used platform means that hackers can reach more hypothetical victims. Also, sometimes those fake links You will receive them even from friends or family. This occurs since they have been previously attacked and send it without realizing it.
Alleged offers
A common type of false link is the one with a supposedly interesting offer. They send you a link to a page where you will find a heavily discounted product price, a discount code to access an offer, etc. However, it is really just bait to get you to click.
When you enter that link, you might have to download a file for that supposed discount and it’s actually malware. They could also ask you to put certain personal information and they will end up in the wrong hands or they will use that information against you, to launch phishing campaigns and the like.
Access to networks or banks
Another type of link that you should avoid clicking on WhatsApp is when they ask you for access to a bank or some social network. For example, they could send you something so that you see a supposed photo on Facebook and, when you click it, a window will appear to log in and you will have to put your information there.
The problem is that, once again, we are facing a scam. That page is really false and does not correspond to the bank or the social network. It is a Phishing attack, with which they will try to steal your passwords by believing that you are entering a legitimate website.
Urgent information
Hackers often play with time. They tend to make the victim believe that they need to do something quickly. For example, they might say that there is a problem with an account and they need to confirm some information, download some file or simply contact them.
But of course, it is actually a trap. They seek that the victim does not have time to think about what may be an illegitimate link and, by worrying about this supposed problem, they will end up clicking. Therefore, be careful with these links that come to you and that indicate that you need to do something quickly.
unknown number links
In this case, we are talking about any link that comes to you through a Unknown number. If you don’t really know who is behind that message, don’t open any links. It may clearly be a scam attempt. They could send that message in a massive way, to reach a lot of people, and it’s actually a malicious campaign.
Especially, be careful with shortened links. By not seeing the real URL in plain sight, you could hide a dangerous link. Analyze these links well and do not open them if you have not been able to previously verify who it corresponds to.
As you can see, you should never open these types of links that come to you through WhatsApp. It could be a scam and you should take steps to prevent cyber attacks. It is essential to be prepared, have a good antivirus and everything updated so as not to have security problems when using these applications.
