WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, with over 2 billion users. It offers end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, photos, videos and documents. This ensures only you and the person you’re communicating with can read or listen to them. For added security, WhatsApp provides the option to verify your security code.
What is the WhatsApp security code?
The WhatsApp security code is a unique 6-digit number associated with your account. It helps verify that your messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted. When you or your contacts have the “Show security notifications” setting enabled in WhatsApp, you’ll see this code on the app when:
- You add a new contact
- A contact changes their phone number
- You create a WhatsApp group
Verifying this code ensures that you’re communicating with your intended contact, not someone posing as them. This prevents unauthorized access to your chats.
Should you verify the WhatsApp security code?
Verifying your WhatsApp security code adds an extra layer of security to your communications. Here are some key reasons why it’s recommended:
- Prevents unauthorized access: Verifying your security code protects against SIM swap attacks. This is where a hacker ports your phone number onto a new SIM card to access your WhatsApp.
- Confirms your contacts’ identities: Verifying your contacts’ security codes ensures you’re messaging and calling the right people. It prevents impersonators from accessing your chats.
- Strengthens end-to-end encryption: WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption relies on unique security codes to verify identities. Verifying them enhances this encryption.
- Extra protection for groups: In a WhatsApp group, verifying members’ security codes prevents infiltrators from spying on group conversations.
- Peace of mind: The verification process gives you confidence that your WhatsApp communications are secure and private.
However, there are a couple scenarios where verifying the security code may not be necessary:
- If you personally know the contact and can confirm their phone number hasn’t changed.
- In large WhatsApp groups where verifying every new member isn’t feasible.
How to verify your WhatsApp security code
Verifying your own WhatsApp security code is simple. Just follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Account > Security > Show security notifications.
- Toggle on Show security notifications.
- You’ll now see a 6-digit security code in the WhatsApp chat screen.
- To verify, go back to Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable.
- Enter a 6-digit PIN when prompted.
- Enter your email address to help reset your PIN if you forget it.
- Tap Next and confirm your email address.
You’ve now verified your security code. You’ll periodically see it again if your number changes. This confirms your identity and secures your account.
How to verify your WhatsApp contacts’ security codes
To verify a contact’s security code in WhatsApp:
- Ask the contact to enable Show security notifications in their WhatsApp settings.
- Have them send you a new message.
- Their 6-digit code will show up in the chat header.
- Tap the code and select Verify.
- Confirm the code matches what your contact sent you separately.
- Select OK to verify the security code.
Following these steps prevents unauthorized people from validating their security code with you. For groups, repeat the process as new members join.
Can you reset your WhatsApp security code?
Your WhatsApp security code is tied to your phone number and can’t be manually reset. However, it will automatically change if:
- You get a new phone number.
- You reinstall WhatsApp.
- You change phones.
This ensures that even if someone learns your security code, it becomes useless if you update your phone number. The new code will only be known to you and your contacts after re-verifying.
What happens if you don’t verify your security code?
Without verifying your WhatsApp security code, there are some risks:
- SIM swap attacks could allow hackers to access your account.
- Impersonators may be able to message your contacts without detection.
- Group members may not be who they claim to be.
- End-to-end encryption is not fully utilized.
However, WhatsApp messages still have some encryption without security code verification. So your chats have more protection than SMS text messages.
Can you tell if someone has verified your security code?
There’s no built-in way to tell if your contacts have verified your security code in WhatsApp. Even after verifying their codes, you won’t get a notification when they verify yours.
The closest option is to go to Group info > Group members in a WhatsApp group. Icons indicate which members have verified security codes, but not whose specifically.
Should businesses verify WhatsApp security codes?
Verifying WhatsApp security codes is just as important for businesses as individual users:
- It protects sensitive customer data and transactions.
- It prevents fraud, like fake accounts contacting customers.
- It ensures only authorized staff have access to WhatsApp Business.
- It builds customer trust in your business’s security.
To verify codes, businesses should confirm employee identities when adding them to WhatsApp. When chatting with customers, verify their codes to prevent scammers.
Key takeaways
Here are some key points on verifying your WhatsApp security code:
- The 6-digit code helps confirm identities and encrypt chats.
- Verifying your own code secures your account from unauthorized access.
- Verifying your contacts’ codes protects against impersonators.
- Codes change automatically when you update phone numbers.
- Enabling security notifications shows codes to verify.
- Verification provides additional protection beyond WhatsApp’s encryption.
Conclusion
Verifying your WhatsApp security code only takes a few minutes but provides important identity confirmation and account security. While not absolutely mandatory, it helps strengthen WhatsApp’s encryption and prevent unauthorized access. For most users, the minimal effort of verifying codes is worth the enhanced privacy and peace of mind. Businesses especially should enable security code verification to protect customer data and build trust.
