Just got my WhatsApp hacked :( any advice?

[dandelionwoman]

Hi MN!
I just received a message from an old friend saying 'sorry to hear your bad news' - I responded to say 'Hi! What bad news?' & she then 'replied' with some very odd comments that didn't make sense. I then texted her to ask if she'd whatsapped me & more odd messages came back. Then when I called my sister on WhatsApp my name came up as someone else... I have deactivated WhatsApp & texted close friends to warn them of this... what now? How can I get my WhatsApp back?
Too anxious to try now & feeling pretty pissed off! Anyone else had this?
Also pretty weird that these hackers seemed to have access to friends texts as well? 🤯

Ah ha! Sorted now I think...(thanks google) xx

One tip about WhatsApp. If you're worried, you can also go into accounts > security, and turn on security notifications. This will show a little box in the chat if a contact switches to a new phone. Most of the time it's just a case of someone getting a new phone, but if you notice someone acting strangely right after that notification, you might want to keep your guard up.

Another thing to take note of, if you're worried, is to turn on 2 step verification. One way that WhatsApp accounts can be hacked is if someone keys in your phone number and is somehow provided with the verification code sent to your number. Sometimes it's a case of people giving this code out to the 'hacker' unknowingly. Sometimes however, it's due to them being a victim of sim swapping whereby a 'hacker' is able to convince ISPs to switch someone's current number to their (hacker's) sim. I think ISPs are more aware of this now and are on the lookout, but that's just one of the many scams 'on the rise', albeit a much rarer one.

Oh my gosh I'm so sorry didn't see your update! Disregard my post!