Is WhatsApp safe? 3 Things You Should Know About The Popular App
WhatsApp, like many other social apps, comes with many privacy concerns. The Facebook owned app has approximately 300 million daily active users worldwide and has been banned in 12 countries, including China, Bangladesh, Iran, North Korea, and Syria. However, the company is dedicated to providing a simple, secure, reliable messaging service and has implemented many privacy features to ensure clients safety.
The following outlines 3 ways to ensure you are using WhatsApp safely:
First things first – ensure your app is legit.
As one of the most popular instant messaging apps, WhatsApp is an obvious target for hackers due to it’s enormous user base. In the past, security breaches in the app allowed hackers to install spyware into another device by simply calling it. Are you at risk? The chances of your everyday, average person being hacked is highly unlikely, however, as a precaution it’s best ensure that you have downloaded the app or accessed WhatsApp web through the official, trusted site or relevant app store. For example: WhatsApp for Android | iOS | macOS | Windows.
Secondly – adjust your privacy settings.
Ever seen the text alongside and wondered what it means? Well, “end-to-end encryption” is a security feature that means only you and the person receiving your message can read what is sent. It is important to note though that your backed-up messages, which are saved to your Google drive, aren’t protected by encryption.
End-to-end encryption is an automatic privacy feature that is built into the app. However, there are other privacy features that you can control and need to adjust yourself. By default, WhatsApp allows any WhatsApp user to see your read receipts, last seen, about and profile photo and also by default it allows your contacts to view your status updates.
To change this open WhatsApp > tap the menu button (shown as the 3 dots) > settings > account > privacy. Here you can set who has access to the information on your profile and even block individual contacts from viewing your status updates.
Lastly – how to spot a scheme!
Fake news, spam, hoaxes – WhatsApp has put many measures in place to reduce these kinds of messages. However, some do slip through the cracks making it vital for you to discern when you’re being targeted. WhatsApp outlines the following ways in which to spot a deceptive scheme:
• The sender claims to be affiliated with WhatsApp.
• The message says that you have to pay to use WhatsApp (WhatsApp is a free app. They will never ask you to pay and you don’t have to do anything to use it for free.)
• The message claims you can avoid punishment, like account suspension, if you forward the message.
• The message content includes instructions to forward the message.
• The message content includes a reward or gift from WhatsApp or another person.
• The message asks you to share your personal information (like credit card and bank account numbers, birthdate, passwords, etc.)
• The message asks you to click on a link to “activate” a new feature
WhatsApp’s website outlines the various methods you can use to block and unblock contacts. So if you ever do receive a message like this – remember – never forward it! If it’s from a family member or friend disregard the message and if it’s from an unknown contact – delete it and block the sender.
Sources
99firms.com. (2020). 60+ WhatsApp Statistics to Know What’s up in 2020 – 99firms. [online] Available at: https://99firms.com/blog/whatsapp-statistics/#gref [Accessed 27 Jan. 2020].
MakeUseOf. (2020). Is WhatsApp Safe? 5 Security Threats Users Need to Know About. [online] Available at: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-security-threats-whatsapp-users-need-know/ [Accessed 27 Jan. 2020].