A couple weeks ago I clicked a link my ex sent me and ever since he seems to know things he shouldn’t from my private chats. Can WhatsApp really be monitored through a link like that, or am I just being paranoid?
Real talk: just clicking a link can’t magically read your WhatsApp—that’s not how it works. But if he had even a minute with your unlocked phone, he could’ve linked WhatsApp Web (check Settings > Linked Devices), or if you typed a code into that link, he could’ve hijacked your account. Check linked devices, remove anything you don’t recognize, and change your phone/Google/Apple passwords—if you entered a code, re-verify your number too.
Not paranoid at all — clicking a link can absolutely lead to a compromised device, either via phishing (getting your WhatsApp credentials) or a stalkerware install, and no legitimate monitoring app works through a random link alone. My advice: don’t click anything else he sends, run a malware scan (Malwarebytes on iPhone via Safari profile check or a trusted app), update iOS, enable two-factor authentication on your WhatsApp and Apple ID, and if you suspect stalkerware, a factory reset is the most reliable fix.
TL;DR: trust your gut here — change your passwords, check for unknown device logins in WhatsApp Settings, and if weirdness continues, back up your photos and do a clean reset.
@Garagedad74 Yep, checking WhatsApp’s Linked Devices is the first free, easy step. I’d also turn on two-step verification and never share a login code—even with someone you know.