WhatsApp’s Top Security, Privacy Features Every User Needs To Know

WhatsApp’s Top Security, Privacy Features Every User Needs To Know

From MP4 videos to GIFs, cybercriminals are using different ways to target WhatsApp users around the world. The instant messaging application was recently targeted using spyware called Pegasus to snoop on individuals around the world. For millions of WhatsApp users around the world, it’s important they know how to use some of the built-in features aimed at safety and privacy.

Two-step verificationOne of the easiest ways to secure your WhatsApp account is to enable two-step verification. An additional layer of security, this will help you get an instant alert if anyone tries to hack into your account.

To use the two-step verification, open in-app Settings. Then go to Account and then tap on the “two-step verification.” Note that you need to provide an email address which will be used later to retrieve a six-digit PIN code.

“If you receive an email to disable two-step verification, but didn’t request this, don’t click on the link. Someone could be attempting to verify your phone number on WhatsApp,” WhatsApp warns users.

Note that WhatsApp will periodically ask you to enter your PIN so that you remember the code. You cannot disable this without disabling the two-step verification.

When the phone is lost or stolenMost of the internet companies including Google, Apple and Facebook allow you to disable unrecognized devices or remotely reset the connected device. For WhatsApp, you have two options. Once you get your new SIM number, re-enter your number and verify on a new device. The WhatsApp app on the older phone will be automatically reset since instant messenger works on one device at a time, for now. The second alternative is to email WhatsApp itself with “Lost/Stolen: Please deactivate my account.” Make sure you provide your correct phone number (also include international format). 

ALSO READ: WhatsApp’s latest update reveals multiple device support, photo icon change

ReportIf you’re receiving messages from an unknown number, you can block the number and even report it. To report a WhatsApp number, tap on the sender name, scroll down to find “Report Contact” or “Report group” in case of a group. WhatsApp’s Group users can also change the settings to prevent anyone from adding you to groups without your permission.

Status privacyDon’t want everyone to see your Status updates? You can always choose between “my contacts”, “my contacts except” and “only share with..” To get started, open the WhatsApp app, tap on the three dots menu to access more options, select “Status privacy.” Here choose between the said options to customise the visibility of your Status updates.

ALSO READ: Closer look at WhatsApp’s multi-platform support, dark mode and more

More tipsDon’t click on any link or download file that seems suspicious. Don’t download WhatsApp from unknown sources, instead of Play Store (Android ) or App Store (iPhone).

WhatsApp Status

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Dramatic Developments Captured In Supriya Sule’s WhatsApp Status

Dramatic Developments Captured In Supriya Sule’s WhatsApp Status

Supriya Sule’s first status update on the mobile messaging app, came at 10.44 am said, “Party and Family split”.

In the ever-changing world of politics and communication, the modes of sending a message are always evolving.

In a novel move, the Nationalist Congress Party’s member of Parliament Supriya Sule, who happens to be the daughter of party leader Sharad Pawar, on Saturday chose WhatsApp status to make her family’s stand on the surprising turn of events in Maharashtra’s politics.

If the fax machine played a starring role in placing Jammu and Kashmir under President’s Rule in November 2018, Sule’s WhatsApp status update confirmed the split in the party that had been formed in 1999 when Sharad Pawar walked out of the Congress party over the issue of foreign origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

On Saturday morning, the swearing-in ceremony of Pawar’s nephew and former Maharashtra minister, Ajit, led to urgent speculation in political circles that the 78-year-old politician had outwitted the Congress and the Shiv Sena into thinking they were forming an alliance together when actually, the NCP was negotiating with the Bhartiya Janata Party.

WhatsApp Status

Pawar distanced himself with a tweet but it was Sule’s personal and emotional messages which sounded more convincing that Ajit Pawar had gone rogue on the NCP.

Her first status update, which can be accessed by all those who are part of her contacts on the mobile messaging app, came at 10:44am and said ‘Party and Family split’. This came at a time when there was speculation that there was a deal between the BJP and the NCP according to which Sule would be made a cabinet minister.

The next WhatsApp update then came at 11:12am and was much more explicit about where she stood vis a vis her cousin and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

“Who do you trust in life..Never felt so cheated in my life. Defended him loved him..Look what I get in return (sic)’’.

Hindustan Times spoke to Sule at this point and she reiterated this. “It is very clear from Mr Pawar’s tweet that there is a split in the NCP,’’ she said.

However, neither she nor her party were clear at that point, just how many MLAs were with Ajit. “These things take time,’’ she said.

Sule’s final WhatsApp status update came at 5:38pm. “Chin up..Stand for good core values..Honesty, integrity, strength, hard work and dliver superior results to serve the people (sic).’’

Incidentally, even the other side used WhatsApp updates. The BJP’s Gopal Aggarwal, who sat on the BJP podium with Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, said “Sharad Pawar and Congress had said that they had the mandate to sit in the opposition. Suddenly, how did it become the match-fixing to grab the chair’’.

In 2018, the assembly was dissolved in J-K after governor Satyapal Malik said his fax machine wasn’t working and so he didn’t receive the letter of the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coming together to stake claim to form the government in the state.

WhatsApp Latest Update Shows ‘Deleted Messages’ Could Change For You Forever

WhatsApp Latest Update Shows ‘Deleted Messages’ Could Change For You Forever

Facebook took a huge inspiration from Snapchat to develop ephemeral messaging on Messenger and Instagram. It is now expanding the feature on WhatsApp, the world’s most popular chat app. In fact, this feature, named Disappearing Messages, was spotted some time back with options for users to assign a time limit to the sent messages. Now called Deleted Messages, the feature has cropped up again in WhatsApp’s latest beta build for Android, featuring support for the impending dark mode.

WABetaInfo has shared screenshots of the Deleted Messages feature that is not visible to beta users as now. However, it is available as a part of WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.19.348. The update can be downloaded via Google Play store and even sideloaded using the APK file, sourced from apkmirror.Com. According to the report, Deleted Messages is still being worked on, which is why it may take some time for it to roll out for users. There is no word if the feature is also being concurrently developed for WhatsApp for iOS.

WhatsApp chat status

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As per the screenshots, Deleted Messages will be available in Contact Info or Group Settings, which only admins can enable. There are multiple stipulated time options available for Deleted Messages – from 1 hour to 1 year – but the final version could have more practical options. The feature can be turned off as well. Deleted Messages even has a dark mode, which is also something WhatsApp is constantly working on.

Dark mode is a theme based on inversed colours that help reduce strain on eyes while using apps during the night. WhatsApp has been working on dark mode for its apps for a long time now but there’s no indication to when it will finally roll out for users. A flurry of WhatsApp elements has leaked in screenshots, but none has made to even the beta version of the app. Apparently, WhatsApp is fine-tuning each part of the app to make sure the dark mode is effectively implemented.

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Minutes After Posting WhatsApp Photo, Friends Meet Tragic End At Kandivli

Minutes After Posting WhatsApp Photo, Friends Meet Tragic End At Kandivli

'What is a best friend? A single soul in two bodies' — was a WhatsApp status updated by a youth, just 5-10 minutes before he and the friend he was referring to were killed in a road accident. In a hit-and-run case, two best friends — Anil Dilip Waghela, 29, and Sagar Prakash Patel, 26 — both residents of Carter road no-3 at Borivali East were mowed down by a speeding dumper on Western Express Highway at Kandivli late Tuesday night. Both died on the spot, the police said.

Cops said both were on an Activa and riding without a helmet. Samta Nagar cops have registered a hit-and-run case and are on the lookout for the driver who fled the scene.According to the cops, the incident occurred on Tuesday at 11 pm on the Mahindra and Mahindra bridge at Kandivli East on the Churchgate bound side. Both Anil and Sagar were going to meet one of their friends in Malad when their bike skidded and came under the dumper.

WhatsApp chat Status Video

Speaking to mid-day, Anil's mother Jyotsna Ben Waghela said, "My son was working with Uber delivery services. On Tuesday, after completing work at 11 pm, he and a friend went to meet his other friend. However, around 11.30 pm one boy came to our house with my son's Aadhar card and informed us that he had met with an accident." "I collected my son's pieces from the accident spot. Both Anil and Sagar were best friends and before the accident, they had taken a selfie on the highway and uploaded it as a WhatsApp status.

And in the next 5 to 10 minutes the accident took place," Jyotsna added. Deceased Sagar Patel's mother added, "My son had just completed his graduation and was searching for a job. The driver who killed my son and Anil should be arrested and be punished severely." A police officer from Samta Nagar police station said, "As per RTO rules, both the rider and pillion are supposed to wear a helmet. But neither of them was. We are scanning CCTV footage of the highway and searching for the accused driver."

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