10 Ways to Protect WhatsApp from Hacking and Eavesdropping

By default, the security of the WhatsApp messenger is so-so. The same goes for privacy. However, fine-tuning will allow, if not exclude, then at least minimize risks. We will teach you how to make the application more secure and help protect the privacy of your correspondence.

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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 (be sure to remember it). Do not also forget to provide your email address if you suddenly 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 need to enter the PIN. 

2. Disable Pop-Up Messages:

Go to "Settings", select the item "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. We Hide the Time of Our Activity:

By default, WhatsApp users are shown the time each other has been online. That is, you can find out when you last launched the messenger. 

If you do not want someone to know that you have recently been online, then go to "Settings," → "Account," → "Privacy," and replace the item "Was (s)" with "Your contacts "Or" Nobody ". 

4. How to Hide Correspondence With a Specific User? 

It's easy to hide a conversation without deleting the conversation. To do this, select the desired chat, then slide your finger over it from right to left, and then click "Archive". 

Yes, if someone has access to your smartphone and this someone is a more or less advanced user, he will find the conversation in the archives. However, not everyone knows about this—at least some protection. 

5. Blocking Users:

And this will help you get rid of spammers, numerous scammers, and people just unpleasant to you.

It's simple - you need to add the annoying or unwanted contact to the blacklist. To do this, click on the user's connection, click on the avatar at the top, go down to the very bottom, where we find the "Block" option. We block. 

By the way, you can get acquainted with the entire list of blocked users by going to "Settings," → "Account," → "Privacy," → "Blocked". 

6. Turn Off Message Backup:

To turn off the backup of your correspondence in iCloud, you need to go to "Settings", then to "Chats", click on "Backup", and then to the item "Automatic". There change to "Disabled". 

The fact is that in the cloud, all correspondence is stored unencrypted. If your account is hacked, they will gain access to your chats. 

7. Hide Information, Statuses, Photos:

Go to "Settings," → "Account," → "Privacy". There we select the desired item: "Profile photo", "Information," or "Status", we decide who will see your data (either "Nobody" or "My contacts") - so strangers will not be able to track you. 

8. Hide Message Read Notifications:

Suppose you do not want your interlocutors to know that you have already read their messages (by default, this is indicated by a blue double tick). In that case, you need to go to "Settings," → "Account," → "Privacy," and uncheck the item "Reports about reading ". 

Unfortunately, after that, you will not be able to see similar checkboxes from your contacts. Yes, it only works in regular chats, not group chats. 

9. How to Hide Read Receipts Without Disabling Read Receipts:

And yet, there is an opportunity to read messages without notifying the sender while not disabling read receipts (as in the previous paragraph). "Flight mode" to help. Please turn it on, read the message, close WhatsApp, turn off airplane mode. That's it - the sender will not receive a read receipt. 

10. Disable the Display of Geolocation: 

You can share your geolocation on WhatsApp - the application allows you to send the desired address quickly. You can choose how long to share the location: 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 8 hours. 

What if you need to disable this feature (let's say you accidentally shared your geolocation by mistake)? We go to "Settings," → "Account," → "Privacy," select "Geodata" there, and then "Stop sharing." All!

Read More: 10 Tips to Keep Your Privacy on Social Media

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