WhatsApp users around the world are being issued urgent advice with regards to online privacy - amid a litany of scams which are currently frequenting the instant messaging service.
The Meta-owned company, which is used by more than two million people monthly, is warning consumers that they should ensure their profile pictures are private - in a bid to improve security and banish lucrative cyber criminals.
While it may not seem like a security risk on the face of things, having your picture publicly available allows hackers to gain clues with regards to your identity, in-turn, making it much easier to trick you into falling for an elusive scam.
Read more: WhatsApp users warned about terrifying text used by scammers to hack into phones
The Express reports that the infamous 'Hi mum' attack is still doing the rounds, while the 'six-digit code' threat is also frequenting. Both scams are made more effective should the hacker behind them know more about your personal life and identity - such as gender.
The preventative change takes just seconds to carry out, and is certainly worth thinking about should you be worried about falling victim to online fraud. To make your profile picture only visible to contacts simply: Tap Settings > Account > Privacy > Profile Picture > then change to My contacts.
Once this is done, only those who know you will be able to see your photo, blocking out complete strangers with malicious intent.
A couple of scams to be vigilant of -
'Hi mum'
One of the more popular scams on the instant messaging service comes in the form of the 'hi mum' or 'friend in need' scam, in which the hacker pretends to be a family member or friend before asking for money after their phone or wallet is presumably lost or stolen.
Action Fraud confirmed recently that in excess of 1,200 people had handed over a grand total of £1.5million to cyber criminals in 2022 through this highly-deceiving method alone.
'Six-digit code'
The 'six-digit code' threat states that a friend has lost a phone and needs a code to be sent to a new device, to allow them to recover data. In reality, the code allows hackers to access your account upon activation - locking you out of your chats and allowing them to access your phone numbers and message with ease.
This can also be used to scam more people, and attempt to steal money in your name.
As well as the profile picture change, WhatsApp also shared some other stern advice to help its billions of customers stay safe online and prevent online fraudsters from monetary gain at their expense.
A spokesperson for the company, said: "WhatsApp protects your personal messages with end-to-end encryption, but we can all play a role in keeping our accounts safe by remaining vigilant to the threat of scammers.
"If you receive a suspicious message (even if you think you know who it’s from), calling or requesting a voice note is the fastest and simplest way to check someone is who they say they are. If you get a message from someone who isn't in your contacts, we give you the option to block or report them straight away."
You can also report any encounters with cyber criminals and suspected hackers alike to Action Fraud.
Have you ever been targeted by WhatsApp hackers or online fraudsters? Let us know in the comments.
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