NCC Recommends Two-Factor Authentication To Secure WhatsApp

The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team has recommended Two-Factor Authentication for WhatsApp users.

NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka on Tuesday in a statement said this was to avoid falling victims to account takeover by hackers.

Muoka said NCC-CSIRT noted that WhatsApp, which is a meta-owned service is increasingly becoming a prime target for hackers and scammers who are always looking for ways to gain unauthorised access to users’ accounts.

He said that CSIRT described 2FA as an identity and access management security method that requires two forms of identification to access resources and data.

He quoted the advisory as saying: “In the world of messaging apps, one of the most popular and recognisable is WhatsApp.

“WhatsApp is 100 per cent free to use, has a great mobile app, and supports audio and video calls.

“Whether you rely on WhatsApp for all your messaging needs or just use it from time to time, it is recommended to set it up with (2FA).

“With this enabled, you will need to enter a custom PIN every time you log into WhatsApp from a new device, adding an extra layer of security to your account.

“The Team said, 2FA gives businesses or people the ability to monitor and help safeguard their most vulnerable information and networks.

“The 2FA is important because it prevents cybercriminals from stealing, destroying, or accessing your internal data records for their own use.”