How to make whatsapp secure
8 Tips to Make WhatsApp More Secure and Private
WhatsApp is among the fastest growing instant messengers out there, and almost a social network in its own way. But if you are using it, there are some steps you should take to protect your security and privacy.
This is above and beyond WhatsApp's built-in end-to-end encryption. It's enabled by default and can't be turned off. The encryption ensures that your messages can only be read on the recipient's phone. It's the same for voice calls and video calls, both of which are encrypted.
1. Check Encryption for Sensitive Conversations
Even though WhatsApp encrypts all chats by default, sometimes you want to double-check. It's good practice to do that while sharing sensitive information like a credit card number with a trusted contact.
To verify the encryption, start a conversation with that contact. In the chat window, tap the contact's name, and then tap Encryption. You'll see something like this:
This 40-digit pattern is your security code. You can verify this code manually by comparing the digits, asking the contact to scan that QR code, or scanning your contact's code with the "Scan Code" button. As security researcher Martin Shelton notes, it's best to use a different messenger to verify that these numbers match.
2. Turn On Security Notifications
When a new phone or laptop accesses an existing chat, a new security code is generated for both phones. And WhatsApp can send a notification when the security code changes. This way, you can check the encryption with your friend over a different messenger, ensuring its security.
To turn on security notifications, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Security > Show security notifications and flip the toggle to green, as pictured above.
3. Enable Two-Step Verification
If a service supports it, you should be using two factor authentication (2FA).
This adds a periodic passcode to WhatsApp, and also ensures your data isn't accessed by someone else.
To activate 2FA, go to Menu > Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable. Follow the steps to create a six-digit PIN code that you can easily remember. Importantly, add your email address to retrieve that code in case you forget it.
The periodic checks for the passcode are randomized, so it's not exactly the same as password-locking your chat. But that's not 2FA's purpose anyway. The purpose is to stop someone else from accessing your WhatsApp account without your consent. It's truly one of the best new WhatsApp features, and even available on WhatsApp Web.
4. You Can't Password Protect WhatsApp
Unfortunately, there's no way to lock WhatsApp with a password. WhatsApp has said so explicitly and recommends using a third-party locking app for it on Android.
On iPhones, there is simply no way to password-protect WhatsApp. Apple doesn't allow it, whether with a passcode or Touch ID.
So for now, the periodic 2FA pin is your only hope. Apart from that, the only way to keep WhatsApp private from snooping eyes is to use a password or pattern lock on your phone.
5. Disable Cloud Backups (If You Care About Privacy)
The end-to-end encryption is awesome, but there's one loophole: WhatsApp backs up chats to Google Drive or iCloud. That way, if you reinstall it later, you can retrieve your old messages. But this backup isn't encrypted.
So if you really care about your privacy, then that's something you need to disable. Remember, storing your data with Apple and Google might not protect you against eavesdropping by governments.
To disable automatic cloud backups:
- On iPhone: Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Auto Backup > Off
- On Android: Go to WhatsApp > Menu > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Backup to Google Drive > Never
6.
Beware of Common Scams Since it's an instant messenger, you might get some scams on WhatsApp periodically. You need to know some of the popular ones and not fall for them. Socially engineered attacks are one way your WhatsApp messages can be hacked.
The most persistent ones talk about a premium version of WhatsApp, "WhatsApp Gold," or your account expiring. No matter how it's worded, the scam is about making you pay for WhatsApp. It shouldn't need to be said, but don't ever pay money for WhatsApp. The company has made it clear that WhatsApp will forever be free.
Read up on the most common WhatsApp scams and how to recognize and avoid WhatsApp spam so you know what to avoid.
7. Get the Official WhatsApp Desktop Apps
To use WhatsApp on your computer, you need to sync your phone with either WhatsApp Web or the WhatsApp desktop apps. To be on the safe side, get the official desktop app.
The main reason for this is that WhatsApp Web can be easily manipulated, the Electronic Frontier Foundation says.
It's one of the biggest security threats WhatsApp users are facing. And when the EFF wrote that report, the recommended solution was to provide desktop clients.
Sure, there are better options than the official WhatsApp desktop client, but don't trade in security for a few extra features.
Download: WhatsApp for Windows or Mac (Free)
8. Protect Your Privacy on WhatsApp
WhatsApp isn't the most private messenger out there, but it gives users at least some control. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy to see everything at your disposal.
You can control who can see your Last Seen, profile photo, about, status, and live location. You can also turn off Read Receipts here, so the blue check marks are switched off.
There's no recommendation here, you can choose what works best for you. To learn more, here's everything you need to know about WhatsApp privacy settings and how to keep your photos safe on WhatsApp.
Do You Think WhatsApp Is Safe and Private?
Even with all these features, you should know that WhatsApp isn't completely secure. In fact, there are other more secure communication apps you can try instead. But for 99 percent of regular users, WhatsApp's security protocols should be good enough. Just ensure that you update the WhatsApp app regularly to stay safe from security breaches.
Image Credit: sdecoret/Depositphotos
8 tips to make your WhatsApp more secure and private
Communication
WhatsApp is one of the most used instant messaging apps right now. Many people use it as a main way of texting with family, friends and even for businesses, making the WhatsApp account more critical. Since our privacy is important, protecting your WhatsApp account has become essential.
Apart from the end-to-end encryption offered by the application, which is part of the application itself and not optional, there are some other tips that can help you secure your whatsapp account and make it more private.
Secure WhatsApp with a fingerprint or face ID verification
A biometric verification feature can be one of the best things to do to secure your WhatsApp account. A fingerprint or face identificarion security layer will make it much harder for anyone to use your WhatsApp account without your permission.
To enable this feature on iOS, head to Settings > Account > Privacy > Screen Lock. If you are using Android you need to head to the menu button then Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint Lock.
The feature also locks WhatsApp automatically after a certain time passes for more security. The 'immediately' option means you will have to unlock it everytime. This is kind of annoying but it can be worth it if you send sensitive information through the application.
Enable two-step verification
Another layer of security you can add to WhatsApp is 2 step verification. You may have already used this feature with another application or service because it is very popular now.
This security feature means with every sign in into the app, a code will be sent to your phone number and you need to input it to sign in.
Without your number, it can be impossible to login into your account. So if you trust that your phone number is safe, you can enable this feature as another security layer for your WhatsApp account.
To enable this feature on iOS, head to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification. If you are using Android, head to the menu and choose Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification. There you will be prompted to add your 6 digit backup password or a backup email address.
Make your notifications private
Notifications are surely an essential part of the instant messaging experience. However, if privacy matters more, then you can consider stopping these notifications that can let anyone view your incoming messages.
To disable notifications for upcoming WhatsApp messages on iOS, then head to Settings > Notifications.
If you are using Android then you can head to the Menu button and also select Settings > Notifications.
You have a great choice of showing alerts while disabling previews. This means you will get a notification but without the message content. To enable that you can disable the 'Show Preview' option, but this feature is only available on Android.
Blocking spammers on WhatsApp
Blocking spammers can be one other good thing to make your WhatsApp experience better. Fortunately, if someone new sends you a message, WhatsApp gives you the chance to block and report them with a simple touch.
You can also block any contacts if you already had a conversation with them. You can block them from the contact conversation page. You can also unblock the contact through the same page.
Compare prices of smartphones and tablets and buy here
Hide any important conversations
Hiding chats you don't like anyone to directly see if they see your WhatsApp chats is easy to do for any WhatsApp account.
All you need to do is long press on the chat you need to hide, then select 'archive'. This immediately moves your chat to the archive and it doesn't show up in your chats.
The archive can be easily accessed from the bottom of the conversations list. So it is not a secret place at all, but still it is a small trick to keep any stalking eyes away from a specific chat conversation.
Bulk delete older conversations
Sometimes the best way to protect data is to delete it permanently. If you think your WhatsApp account holds conversations with sensitive information you don't need to access again, then this can be a great trick to check.
To bulk delete your old messages, you need to mark the chats then delete them permanently. This will make you unable to retrieve these messages again, but it is always a good idea for unneeded chats. It will free up space on your phone you might need for other data.
Disable read receipts on WhatsApp
Read receipts is a feature that is activated by default in your WhatsApp account.
It puts two blue marks on the messages when people see them. However, if you can give away this feature then you also won't let people know if you read the messages or not. This can be a good feature if you don't want any sort of annoyance and want the maximum privacy while using WhatsApp.
To disable read receipts on iOS, you need to head to Settings > Account > Privacy, then disable the feature. On Android, you need to head to the menu button, then go to Settings > Account > Privacy.
You should also note that while people won't be able to know if you read the message, the feature will still work in WhatsApp groups as the mark turns blue when all the members have seen the message no matter who has turned this feature off.
There are other tricks that people use to read messages without activating the blue mark whether in private chats or WhatsApp groups. For example, turning off the WiFi or using an application to view the message as a notification instead of viewing it through WhatsApp.
Limiting your visibility on WhatsApp
Heading to the privacy setting of your WhatsApp account can help you tweak many settings. You can control your last seen to define who views your last active time or if you don't want anyone to view it at all. You can also control who views your profile photo and your 'about'. This is if you don't want people to see them or if you don't want specifically people outside your contacts to see them.
Compare prices of smartphones and tablets and buy here
859
8 tips to make WhatsApp more secure and private
WhatsApp is one of the fastest growing instant messengers and almost a social network in its own way. But if you use it, you must take some steps to protect your security and privacy.
This is beyond built-in end-to-end encryption end-to-end encryption end-to-end encryption It is enabled by default and cannot be disabled. Encryption ensures that your messages can only be read on the recipient's phone.
The same for voice calls and video calls that are encrypted. nine0003
1. Check encryption for private conversations
Although WhatsApp encrypts all chats by default, sometimes you need to double-check. This is good practice when sharing sensitive information such as a credit card number with a trusted contact.
Start a conversation with this contact to test the encryption. In the chat window, click on the contact's name and then click on Encryption . You will see something like this:
This 40 digit code is your security code . You can manually verify this code by comparing numbers, by asking a contact to scan this QR code, or by scanning your contact's code using the "Scan Code" button. As security researcher Martin Shelton points out, it's best to use a different messenger to make sure these numbers match.
2. Turn on security notifications
When a new phone or laptop accesses an existing chat, a new security code is generated for both phones.
And WhatsApp can send notifications when the security code changes. So you can check the encryption with your friend through another messenger, keeping them safe. nine0003
To turn on security notifications, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Security > Show security notifications and turn the switch to green as shown above.
3. Enable two-step verification
If the service supports it, you must use two-factor authentication. (2FA). This adds a periodic password to WhatsApp and also ensures that your data is not shared with anyone else. nine0003
To enable 2FA, select Menu > Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification > Enable . Follow the instructions to create a six-digit PIN that you can easily remember. It's important to add an email address to receive this code in case you forget it.
Periodic password checks are random, so it's not the same as password locking your chat. But that's not the purpose of 2FA anyway. The goal is to prevent anyone from accessing your WhatsApp account without your consent. This is truly one of the best new WhatsApp features, and even available on WhatsApp Web. nine0003
4. You cannot password protect WhatsApp
Unfortunately, there is no way to lock WhatsApp with a password. Whatsapp has been clear about this and recommends using a third-party lock app on Android.
There is simply no way to password protect WhatsApp on the iPhone. Apple doesn't allow this, whether it's with a passcode or Touch ID.
So for now, periodic 2FA withdrawal is your only hope. Also, the only way to keep whatsapp private eye tracking protection is by using a password or pattern lock. on your phone. nine0003
5. Turn off cloud backup (if you care about privacy)
End-to-end encryption is great, but there's a loophole: WhatsApp backs up chats to Google Drive or iCloud.
That way, if you reinstall it later, you will be able to retrieve your old messages. But this backup is not encrypted.
So if you really care about your privacy, then this is what you need to turn off. Keep in mind that storing your data with Apple and Google may not protect you from eavesdropping by governments. nine0003
To turn off automatic cloud backup:
- On iPhone: go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat backup > Off
- On Android: Go to Whatsapp > Menu > Settings > Chats > Backup Copy chat > Backup to Google Drive > Never
6. Beware of scams
Since this is a messenger, you may occasionally receive WhatsApp scams. You should know some of the popular ones and not fall in love with them.
Socially engineered attacks are one way to hack
hack hacks The most persistent talk about the paid version of WhatsApp, WhatsApp Gold or your account expiration. Regardless of how it's phrased, it's a scam about making you pay for whatsapp. It doesn't need to be said, but never pay money for whatsapp . The company has made it clear that WhatsApp will be free forever.
Read about the most common WhatsApp scams so you know what to avoid.
7. Get the official WhatsApp desktop apps
To use WhatsApp on your computer, you need to sync your phone with WhatsApp Web or the WhatsApp desktop apps. To be on the safe side, get the official desktop app. nine0003
The main reason for this is that WhatsApp Web can be easily manipulated, says the Electronic Frontier Foundation. This is one of the biggest security threats users face. And when EFF wrote this report, the recommended solution was to provide desktop clients.
Sure, there are better options than the official WhatsApp desktop client, but don't trade safe for some extra features.
nine0003
Download: WhatsApp for Windows or Mac (Free)
8. Protect your privacy on WhatsApp
WhatsApp isn't the most private messenger, but it does give users some control. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy, to see everything at your disposal.
You can control who can see your last visit, profile photo, status information and real-time location. You can also disable reading receipts here so that the blue checkmarks are disabled. nine0003
No recommendations here, you can choose what works best for you. To learn more, here is everything you need to know about WhatsApp privacy settings. what you need to know about whatsapp privacy settings. what you need to know about settings and how to keep your photos safe on whatsapp.
Do you think WhatsApp is safe and private?
Even with all these features, you should know that WhatsApp is not completely secure. In fact, there are other more secure communication apps that you can try instead.
But for 99 percent of regular users WhatsApp security protocols should be good enough. Just make sure you update your WhatsApp app regularly to stay safe from security hacks.
Image Credit: sdecoret / Depositphotos
10 Ways to Protect WhatsApp from Hacking and Listening
Let's talk.
By default, the security of the WhatsApp messenger is so-so. The same goes for privacy. However, fine-tuning will, if not eliminate, then at least minimize the risks. We will teach you how to make the application more secure and help protect the privacy of your correspondence. nine0003
1) Turn on two-factor authentication
Start the messenger, go to "Settings", then to "Account", click on "Two-step verification", and then - "Enable". Now come up with a PIN code (be sure to remember it). Don't forget to also include your email address in case you need to change your PIN in the future.
Now, when you need to confirm your messenger account, in addition to the SMS code, you will also need to enter a PIN.
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2) Disable pop-up messages
Go to "Settings", select "Notifications", turn off "Show notifications" (you can separately disable pop-up messages, both from users and from groups).
This will increase privacy - no one will see confidential correspondence on the screen of your locked smartphone.
3) Hiding the time of our own activity
By default, WhatsApp users are shown each other's online activity time. That is, you can find out when you last launched the messenger. nine0003
If you do not want anyone to know that you have been online recently, then go to "Settings" → "Account" → "Privacy" and replace the item "Been (a)" to "Own contacts" or "No one".
4) How to hide correspondence with a specific user?
It's easy to hide a conversation without deleting a conversation. To do this, just select the desired chat, then swipe it from right to left, and then click "Archive".
Yes, if someone has access to your smartphone and this someone is more or less advanced user, he will find the conversation in the archives.
However, not everyone knows about it. At least some protection.
5) Blocking users
And this will help you get rid of spammers, numerous scammers and people who are simply unpleasant to you.
It's simple - you need to add an annoying or unwanted contact to the black list. To do this, click on the user's contact, click on the avatar from above, go down to the very bottom, where we find the "Block" option. We block. nine0003
By the way, you can see the entire list of blocked users by going to "Settings" → "Account" → "Privacy" → "Blocked".
6) Turn off message backup
". Change it to "Disabled".
The fact is that in the cloud all correspondence is stored unencrypted. If your account is hacked, your chats will also be accessed. nine0003
7) Hide information, statuses, photos
Go to "Settings" → "Account" → "Privacy". There we select the desired item: “Profile photo”, “Information” or “Status”, determine who will see your data (either “No one” or “My contacts”) - this way strangers will not be able to track you.
8) Hiding message read notifications
If you do not want your interlocutors to know that you have already read their messages (by default this is indicated by a blue double checkmark), you need to go to "Settings" → "Account" → "Privacy" and uncheck the box "Read records". nine0003
Unfortunately, after that you will not be able to see similar checkmarks from your contacts.
Yes, it only works in regular chats, not group chats.
9) How to hide message read information without disabling read receipts
Still, there is a possibility to read messages without notifying the sender, without disabling read receipts (as in the previous paragraph). Airplane mode to the rescue. We turn it on, read the message, close WhatsApp, turn off airplane mode. That's it - the sender will not be notified of the read. nine0003
10) Turning off the display of geolocation
You can share your geolocation in WhatsApp - the application allows you to quickly send the desired address.
