WhatsApp is what something we all are fond of and we spend most of our time in chats and video call via app. The most popular app today with 1.5 billion users. Most of us are well aware of the features provided by the app like end-to-end encryption, and message delete... but how much of you are aware...
You must ask yourself what security measures you are using to keep your account and yourself safe from the cyber threats. Don’t be in the misconception that WhatsApp is safe and it possess no risk.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR WHATSAPP SECURE???
I must say that WhatsApp possess equal threat as other social media sites do, instead WhatsApp security is much more important than securing other social sites. Spyware attacks have already been occurred in WhatsApp, the data sent and received via WhatsApp messages (including images, gif, documents, and videos) are vulnerable before they are encrypted and after they are decrypted.
“Renowned ethical hacker Jane Manchun Wong confirmed this in a later tweet, adding that 470,000 search results can be found on Google for the term “chat.whatsapp.com”–a section of the URL used for WhatsApp group invites.”
Private chats are no longer PRIVATE
YES, the WhatsApp group chats are easily available over the internet. Google is indexing the group chats join link as the search result and anyone can join via links.
Since all your personal chats and data is stored on your WhatsApp and local device, so make a move to secure your “personal secrets.” And after reading such news it really becomes important to maintain personal security as we cannot control what search engine indexes, but we can control what information we are leaking ourselves.
"...THERE IS NOTHING IN THE CYBER WORLD THAT HAVE ZERO RISK FACTORS..."
Key Concepts to keep your WhatsApp Secure:
- Verify every App Download: Before downloading any app, firstly read the terms and condition of the developer and the permissions that are required by the app.
- Never Accept Files Send from Unknown Source: If you received any file attachment in WhatsApp from an unknown source that was not meant to be received, never ever open or download the attachment.
- Enable Two-Step Verification: Make sure no one can enable your WhatsApp account with the 6-digit PIN that is required while authenticating to WhatsApp. Ensure Two-Step Verification.
- Disable Cloud Backup: Ensure that the cloud backup of the personal chats is disabled as uploading data over third-party cloud provider create a source of vulnerability and could lead to data leak.
- Block Unknown Numbers: Block all unknown numbers you are receiving by opening its description and BLOCK.
- Log Out from all Devices: Always make sure to log out of all devices with WhatsApp logged in.
- Prevent Sharing Confidential Information: Never share any confidential information, like bank details, card details, PIN, or password through WhatsApp.
- Limit Visibility: Limit the profile picture, status and profile status visibility to contacts only or to trusted sources only.
- Disable Automatic Download: Disable automatic download of all media. Malware attached with the media will get auto downloaded and will begin with attack “Spreading Malware through WhatsApp is the new TREND!! MALWARES are nowadays attached with the GIF to make reach to smart phones.”
- Never Connect to Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi are most dangerous as it become easy for the attacker to gain access as public network do not have any security. Even if you have to use public Wi-Fi, avoid opening WhatsApp.
- Don’t Reply to Unknown: Never reply to any message received from unknown person, as they might collect your personal information.
- Keep your Device Secure: Always use the basic protection to protect your mobile device from malware and other threats. Always use Antivirus solutions.
- Account Deactivate: In case you lose your phone, deactivate all your WhatsApp accounts.
In the time when personal information is more important than the person, it becomes very necessary to prevent all your personal data from the “bad guys” and keep it what it sounds like- PERSONAL.