To identify whether WhatsApp has been cloned, it is necessary to observe signs such as alerts about the application registered on other devices, unusual behavior in the messenger, difficulties in entering the application or noticing the frequent receipt of verification codes via SMS.
Having WhatsApp active on another unknown device (other than your Android smartphone or iPhone) is also a worrying sign, as an attacker may have gained access to impersonate you on another device.
Below, check out some clues to find out if cloned your WhatsApp.
Confirm that your WhatsApp has been registered on another device
You can find out if your WhatsApp account has been registered on another smartphone by receiving an SMS or a notification via messenger informing you that the application has been registered on another device without any action on your part.
It is important to note that there is no possibility of having the account cloned without the user noticing, as these notifications will help to find out if someone is trying to duplicate your WhatsApp.
What could happen is that an attacker could gain access to your account and log in without authorization. Therefore, it is essential that you never share the WhatsApp verification code that arrives on your device with anyone.
WhatsApp does not allow you to access your account on the messenger
Another sign that WhatsApp has been cloned is if it suddenly disconnects after receiving a notification that the number has been registered on another device. This is because the app does not allow two accounts (excluding additional connected devices) to operate simultaneously on two smartphones.
In other words, experiencing frequent disconnections for no apparent reason is a good indication that WhatsApp is being used by someone else. Users who want to know if someone has duplicated WhatsApp should also be suspicious if they encounter difficulties accessing their account.
Fortunately, Meta provides a service to deactivate and block your WhatsApp account outside of the messenger in situations like these. The procedure requires an email to the address support@whatsapp.com, including the intent, details of the incident and the full telephone number.
Check your WhatsApp account for suspicious activity
You can find out if WhatsApp has been cloned by noticing suspicious activity on your WhatsApp. Look for irregularities such as messages that you haven't read but are already showing as viewed, changes to your profile, conversations with unknown numbers or unrecognized sent messages to check if WhatsApp is cloned.
A useful tip is to access the messenger’s settings menu and check all accesses under “Connected devices”. This method allows you to find out if WhatsApp has been cloned on your iPhone or Android, as well as disconnect your WhatsApp account from other unknown devices.
You received WhatsApp access tokens via SMS without requesting it
Another way to know if you have been cloned on WhatsApp or if you are being hacked is to watch for confirmation codes from the messenger via SMS, even without any request from you. The notification indicates that someone is trying to access your WhatsApp account.
There is no need to take any action if you received the SMS without having made the request. However, never share the six-digit code you received, as it is the key to finalizing the process of confirming your number on WhatsApp.
Does any message appear when WhatsApp is cloned?
Yes, some notifications alert the user that their WhatsApp account is being cloned. The first of these is the receipt of the SMS “Your WhatsApp account will be registered on a new phone” along with the six-digit code, even if the official account owner has not requested the verification code.
Another strong indication is the message “We were unable to verify this phone. This is probably because you registered your phone number with WhatsApp on another device.” when you try to open the messenger. The alert indicates that an attacker has accessed your account from another device, which has interrupted your access to the messenger.
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Does the person who duplicated WhatsApp have access to my photos and conversations?
Not necessarily, but it can. According to Meta, someone who accesses your account on another device (other than an additional device) will not be able to read previous conversations. However, they can access groups and view contacts in open messages.
The problem is that an attacker could restore a backup and access old conversations and media if they also have your Google Drive or iCloud credentials.
Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen WhatsApp's privacy settings by activating two-factor verification, registering biometrics or facial recognition, and enabling encryption in backups.
Does the person who duplicated my WhatsApp have access to my deleted conversations?
Yes, as long as the person also has your Google Drive or iCloud login credentials. With this information in hand, the attacker can access these cloud services with your account and recover deleted WhatsApp messages from the backup.
One way to prevent hackers from restoring your WhatsApp backup is to enable end-to-end encryption on your backup. This is an additional security feature that protects your cloud-based data with a 64-digit password or encryption key.
Is it possible to recover a cloned WhatsApp account?
Yes. Users who wish to recover a cloned WhatsApp can reinstall the Meta messenger, log in with their phone number and confirm the six-digit code. This step is essential for you to regain control of the account and stop the attacker's device from accessing it.
Cases involving SIM swap require the user to request the SIM chip to be blocked by the operator, purchase a new chip, recover the old number and link it to the new SIM, in addition to reconfiguring WhatsApp with the verification code received.
