How to secure a whatsapp group
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
How to secure your WhatsApp account from social hacking
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Set up a PIN before someone else gets the chance
By Jon Porter / @JonPorty
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Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging service is incredibly easy to set up, but this easy setup process means that your account is open to abuse if you’re not careful.
Thankfully, it’s fairly simple to enable an extra layer of security on your account, which means that you won’t lose it if your six-digit activation code gets compromised.
These security options unfortunately won’t stop you from a serious hack such as the one that hit Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. What it will do is offer another layer of protection if someone manages to trick you into sharing your security code, which is a process known as “social hacking.”
If you need any convincing about why it’s a good idea to use this extra security, then allow me to share a friend’s recent experience about what can go wrong when you don’t.
Bleary-eyed one Sunday morning, she received a WhatsApp message from a close friend that asked if she could forward over a six-digit code that she was just about to receive via SMS. Without thinking, and because she trusted her friend, she sent over the code and suddenly found herself logged out of her WhatsApp account.
Never share your six-digit WhatsApp verification code with anyone
You probably realized what happened.
That wasn’t just any six-digit code; it was the six-digit code that WhatsApp sends to your mobile number via SMS to associate with your WhatsApp account. In sharing that number, my friend had inadvertently allowed the attacker to log in to her account.
Since her attacker now had control of her account, they were then able to send messages from it to any contacts she was in the same group chat with. That’s how the attacker was able to ask for my friend’s six-digit verification code via another friend’s number; they’d gained control of that account as well and used it to message every contact they could, trying to rope them into the scam.
In theory, having your WhatsApp account taken over should be a fairly easy situation to resolve: just enter your phone number into the app and have it send you another six-digit code. The problem is that hackers can spam your number with a bunch of incorrect six-digit codes so that you get locked out of your account for up to 12 hours. Then, if you hadn’t set up a PIN of your own, this leaves an attacker free to set up one of their own on your account, locking you out for seven days in total.
That’s why it’s so important to remember these two rules:
- Never share your six-digit WhatsApp code with anyone — not your parents, not your best friend, and definitely not your sibling. No one will ever have a legitimate reason to ask for the code that WhatsApp sends you over SMS, so don’t even think about sharing it.
- Should the worst happen, then setting up a PIN will act as another barrier to stop someone from being able to sign in to your account, and it will stop this nightmare from happening to you.
How to secure your WhatsApp account
Somewhat confusingly, the PIN is also six digits long. In order to set it up:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots on the top right of the screen
- Hit “Settings” > “Account” and then pick “Two-step verification”
- Hit “Enable,” and then pick your six-digit PIN. The gallery of screenshots below will walk you through the whole process.
- This next step isn’t mandatory, but adding an email address will allow you to recover your account if you forget your PIN.
WhatsApp will periodically ask you for your PIN while you’re using it so that you don’t easily forget it, but we’d still recommend having a backup.
One more thing: it would be remiss of us if we didn’t mention that, in the past, Facebook (WhatsApp’s parent company) has gotten in trouble for using phone numbers provided for two-factor authentication for ad-targeting. The Federal Trade Commission told the company to stop the practice last year. When we asked WhatsApp, it categorically denied that it does this with its backup email addresses, and we think the benefits of providing an email address outweigh the risks.
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.
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How to protect a WhatsApp group from spam and get rid of spammers
WhatsApp is a popular communication application where you can exchange instant messages, send photos, videos and audio files. Compared to other messengers and social networks, there is not much spam on WhatsApp. The creators are actively fighting scammers, but still, many users receive spam messages and download malicious viruses to their smartphones. To avoid this, you need to know how to protect yourself from spammers on WhatsApp.
nine0003
Content
- What is spam
- Why send spam in WhatsApp
- Where do spams get your numbers
- Blocking the WhatsApp on the IPhone 9000 spam
"Spam" in whatsapp is unsolicited comments and messages of an advertising nature. As a rule, they offer the user to follow the specified link or forward the message to friends. Spam content contains malicious content. If the recipient clicks on the link, scammers can hijack their smartphone and get any data contained on it. Sometimes spam messages can lead to a complete failure of the phone. nine0003
WhatsApp has established itself as an ad-free communication app from the start. But lately, users have received more and more intrusive messages from spammers. Because of this, people cannot be sure of their own security, as they understand that their personal data is not well protected. The administrator can get rid of spam in the WhatsApp group. Let's see how to do it.
Why Spam Whatsapp
Marketers try to avoid blocking WhatsApp in every possible way in order to send out mass advertising, drawing users' attention to their product.
Fraudsters act a little differently, using WhatsApp to steal personal information or funds from bank cards. They send malware in messages or otherwise get hold of bank card data. nine0003
Whatsapp spam is being sent by marketers and scammers. Marketers bypass the blocking in every possible way in order to use the mass mailing and acquaint people with the product or service being sold. Moreover, as a rule, advertisers first determine which users are included in their target audience, and then send them information. Fraudsters do things differently. They send messages with malicious programs or links to get hold of personal data and use it for personal gain. nine0003
It is not uncommon for WhatsApp to receive messages from scammers claiming winnings or other profits that require the user to enter their bank card details. Of course, a person never receives a prize on a card, but the balance is reset immediately.
Where spammers get your numbers from
Sometimes users wonder how spammers get their numbers.
Fraudsters and marketers can get personal data in the following ways: - By infecting the interlocutor's device with a virus code that opens access to personal information.
- By hacking the user's page. After gaining access to someone else's account, attackers begin to send out information on his behalf.
There is no such method of protection that would provide a 100% security guarantee. You can hack any page, and then use it for your own purposes. But there is an opportunity to reduce the risk of illegal access to the page. To do this, you need to consider a few rules:
- Never click on suspicious links. Hackers and cybercriminals often use this method to hack pages.
Moreover, links can come from both unknown numbers and from the pages of friends who have already been hacked. - Ignore messages of this kind: "I am writing to you from WhatsApp, reply to me if you received my message." Such messages are sent by scammers, after the answer the user is redirected to a premium service.
- The WhatsApp Public application allegedly allows you to track the correspondence of the necessary contacts. Actually this is a scam. The correspondence of other users on WhatsApp is strictly protected, no matter what applications are installed. nine0008
These tips will help you avoid getting scammed and keep your WhatsApp conversations safe.
WhatsApp Spam Blocker on iPhone
Whatsapp group administrator must ensure that scammers do not gain access to it. The spam blocking method depends on the type of device used for communication. To protect a WhatsApp group from spam on an iPhone, you need to enter the group, select the contact that sent the spam, then open the information about the interlocutor, select "Report Spam".
A confirmation message will appear in the menu that appears. You need to click "ok". After you complete these steps, the selected contact will no longer be able to send a message or media file. nine0003 Blocking WhatsApp spam on Android devices
To remove spam in a whatsapp group from an Android device, you must, again, report the violator to the administration. But in this case, it is important to download an updated version of the application in order to take advantage of the newsletter blocking feature.
You need to select a contact from which spam comes, click on it. After holding your finger, the "Report spam" option will appear. After the system asks you to confirm the action, click "ok". The selected contact will no longer be able to send messages to the group. It is unlikely that it will be possible to completely close the WhatsApp group from spam, but if the administrator regularly monitors spam messages, other users will not feel discomfort. nine0003
Whatsapp Promotion Policy
As of 2019, the WhatsApp policy has been amended to allow advertising only through the WhatsApp Business API.
To connect to the API, you need to send a request to WhatsApp by filling out the appropriate form. After the request is approved, the company name will be displayed instead of the number in the dialog box. A gray checkmark will also appear, confirming that you can now send advertisements about the company. nine0003 The green tick is only given to large companies, such as banks.
After receiving the checkmark, the paid period for using the business application begins. Regularly paying the required amount, you still need to try not to fall under spam filters. It should also be borne in mind that mailing is allowed only to those numbers whose owners have agreed to this. So, the mailing list can be carried out by online stores to their customers who have already used the service at least once. Informing buyers on WhatsApp about current and upcoming promotions can have a good effect, especially if you guess with the product. nine0003
How to stop being added to WhatsApp groups
Are you annoyed when you are added to WhatsApp groups without your permission? Thanks to a new function in the application, now you can confirm or deny your participation in any group.
- Make sure your WhatsApp is up to date
- How to prevent automatic addition to WhatsApp groups
- Set WhatsApp blocking options
Until now, any WhatsApp user could add you to a group without even asking for your permission. To do this, it was only enough for him to know your phone number!
The latest WhatsApp updates for Android and iOS finally have a new feature that allows you to control who will be allowed to automatically invite you to a group. In this article we will tell you how to activate .
Make sure your WhatsApp is up to date
First, make sure you are using the latest version of the WhatsApp application. Here's how to do it on Android . Open the app Play Store and click on three horizontal bars to expand the menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
Click on the section My games and applications .
Verify that the message No updates available is displayed.
If not, find the WhatsApp application in the list of applications to update and press the 9 button0084 Update .
How to prevent automatic addition to WhatsApp groups
Open the WhatsApp application. Click on three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the screen > Settings (Settings).
Enter the section Account (Account) in Settings . Then press Privacy (Privacy). At the bottom of page Privacy you will find the section Groups where you can turn on the blocking of adding to groups. nine0003
WhatsApp has the option All enabled by default. It is this setting that needs to be changed to protect against unauthorized additions.
Set WhatsApp blocking options
Under Privacy click Groups (Groups). Then select the authorization level you prefer: if you selected the default option, press All (Everyone):
If you prefer to control who can add you to groups and want only people you know to add you, press nine0084 My contacts (My Contacts):
If you don't want one of your contacts to be able to add you to groups without your permission, press My contacts except (My Contacts Exept) and mark all contacts you want to exclude.
