GhostPairing Attack Exploits WhatsApp Web Scam to Give Hackers Silent Access to Your Chats

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December 2025 witnessed thousands of GhostPairing attacks on WhatsApp. Experts have issued warnings to WhatsApp users across the world and shared some safety measures to adopt in order to prevent data theft. It is reported that hackers, in this latest scam, use fake software packages to spy on WhatsApp accounts. Understand how this GhostPairing attack works and simple methods to prevent it.

How the GhostPairing Attack Compromises the Your Account

The GhostPairing attack starts with a fake message from a friend. It often claims they found a photo of the user. The user then clicks on a link that opens a fake login page and the site asks for the phone number for verification.

Afterwards, the hackers send this number to the real WhatsApp system. As a result, the user gets a real pairing code on the phone. The fake site also shows the same code, so that users enter it thinking it is a safety step. This action links the hacker’s device to the user’s chat account.

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“GhostPairing enables cyber criminals to take complete control of WhatsApp accounts without needing a password or SIM swaps,” according to the experts. The real risk is how hackers exploit verification fatigue. Nowadays, people see so many codes that they stop being careful. This attack turns a security tool into a trap for the user.

Essential Steps to Secure Your WhatsApp Web Session

Follow these steps strictly to prevent a WhatsApp scam.

1.You must regularly monitor your linked devices to stay safe. Open your WhatsApp settings and look at Linked Devices.

2.Remove any browser or location that looks strange to you. This step kills the hacker’s "ghost" session at once.

3.You should also turn on two-step verification.

4.Set a private PIN to add a strong layer of defense.

5.Never put your phone number into websites outside of WhatsApp.

6.Be careful with links from friends that ask for codes.

Experts warn that “WhatsApp messaging might look private, but the app itself has gaps that attackers can exploit.” One should treat the "Linked Devices" list like a bank statement. Most users only look at it when they have a problem. However, doing a manual check every single week is necessary to ensure data privacy.

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