WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, used by millions of people every day for personal and professional conversations. However, like any digital platform, it is not immune to security and privacy risks. With the collection of personal data, the possibility of cyberattacks and the sharing of sensitive information, it is essential that users understand and use the security tools offered by the app.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at WhatsApp’s key security settings. You’ll learn how to customize privacy options, password-protect your app, enable two-factor authentication, and more. These tips are essential for any user concerned about keeping their information safe, whether they use the app for personal or professional purposes.
Essential security settings on WhatsApp
Hide personal information from strangers
One of the first steps to improving security on WhatsApp is to restrict access to your personal information, such as your profile picture, status, and message. These options allow you to control who can see your data: everyone, just contacts, or no one. This level of customization helps maintain your privacy and reduces the risk of exposure to unknown people.
- Access Settings > Account > Privacy.
- Choose who can see your profile picture, status, or message: “Everyone,” “My contacts,” or “Nobody.”
- Consider limiting visibility to known contacts, giving you more control over who accesses your information.
Password protect individual conversations
A recent feature of WhatsApp is the ability to password-protect specific conversations. This feature adds an extra layer of security by preventing third parties from accessing confidential chats, even if they have access to your phone.
- Open the desired conversation, tap on the contact name and enable “Password protection”.
- Make sure WhatsApp is up to date to access this feature.
Set a password for the application
In addition to protecting individual conversations, you can set a password to access the application itself. This way, even if someone unlocks your phone, they won't be able to open WhatsApp without your permission.
- Go to your privacy settings in WhatsApp and enable password or biometric protection, depending on the options available on your device.
Disable “online” status
Your “online” status can reveal your activity on the app, something not everyone wants to share. To hide this information:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Last Seen & Online.
- Choose “Nobody” to completely hide your activity.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is one of the best security measures available on WhatsApp. It requires a six-digit PIN when registering your account on a new device.
- Access Settings > Account > Two-step verification and activate the feature.
- Add a recovery email address in case you forget your PIN.
Use temporary messages for greater discretion
Disappearing messages are ideal for sensitive conversations because they automatically disappear after a specified period of time. This functionality helps reduce the risk of information leaks.
- Activate on Conversation Settings > Disappearing Messages.
- Choose from different durations, such as 24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days.
Send photos and videos in single view mode
To share visual files more securely, use the view once feature. In this mode, the recipient can only view the media once, and it won't be stored on their device.
- When uploading a photo or video, select the “1” icon to enable single view.
Make encrypted backups
Backups are important, but they also represent a vulnerable point. WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption for backups, ensuring that only you have access to them.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup and enable end-to-end encryption.
- Choose a secure storage location, such as Google Drive or iCloud, and password-protect your backup.
Why are these settings important?
In a world where information circulates rapidly and the risks of privacy invasion increase, it is essential to adopt practices that protect your data. Implementing these security settings offers several advantages, such as:
- Hacker prevention: Features like two-factor authentication and encryption make unauthorized access more difficult.
- Control over your information: You decide who can view your data, ensuring greater privacy.
- Peace of mind when sharing files: Tools such as temporary messages and media prevent the improper storage of sensitive information.
Protect your digital interactions
Security on WhatsApp is not just a technical issue, but an ongoing practice that requires attention and updating. Taking steps such as hiding personal information, enabling two-factor authentication, and using disappearing messages are important steps to protect your digital interactions. Additionally, taking advantage of features such as password protection and encrypted backups provides an extra layer of security.
So, take some time to review your security settings in the app. In addition to ensuring that your information is protected, these measures help preserve your privacy in an increasingly challenging digital environment. You can never be too secure, especially when it comes to your personal and professional communications.
In addition to the essential security settings mentioned in this article, there are other best practices that can further protect your information on WhatsApp. While the app already offers a number of robust security tools, conscious and ongoing use of these features can prevent many risks that users often don’t realize until it’s too late. Below, we’ll explore some of these additional practices and explain why they’re equally important.
Keep WhatsApp always updated
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect your WhatsApp is to ensure that the app is always up to date. Updates often include security fixes that aim to protect users from new threats and vulnerabilities.
Ignoring updates can leave your account exposed to attacks, as hackers often exploit security flaws that are fixed in newer versions of the app.
Be careful with suspicious links
WhatsApp is a popular platform for sending links, but it is important to be careful about the links you receive, especially if they are sent from unknown numbers. Phishing attacks, which aim to steal users' personal information, often arrive through fake links that appear legitimate.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links or links that offer tempting promises, such as unrealistic prizes or promotions. If you receive a link from a known contact but are suspicious of its authenticity, confirm with the person who sent it before accessing the content.
Disable media autoplay
Although WhatsApp offers the ability to autoplay videos and images you receive, it is a good practice to disable it. This is because by enabling autoplay, you may end up viewing a malicious file unintentionally, which can compromise the security of your device.
To disable this option, simply access the “Data Usage” settings and uncheck the option that allows automatic media playback. This way, you will have greater control over the files you want to open.
Be careful with WhatsApp groups
WhatsApp groups, while they are a great way to communicate with others, can also pose a potential threat to your privacy. In groups with many members, it is common for information and links to be shared from unverified sources, which can result in malware or phishing attacks.
To protect your information, adjust the group privacy settings to limit who can add you to unknown groups. Also, always be careful about what you share within these groups, especially sensitive information such as banking or personal details.
Review WhatsApp access permissions on the device
WhatsApp, like many messaging apps, requires several permissions to access your device, such as the camera, microphone, contacts, and location.
While many of these permissions are required for the app to function properly, it’s important to periodically review these permissions to ensure that WhatsApp doesn’t have access to more information than it needs to. You can manage these permissions directly from your device’s settings, providing an additional layer of security.
Protect your phone number
One of the most sensitive pieces of information on WhatsApp is your phone number, as it is directly linked to your account. If someone gains access to your number, they could attempt to carry out social engineering attacks by impersonating you in chats or on other apps.
To reduce risks, avoid sharing your number in public or with strangers. Also, when adding a new number to WhatsApp, make sure the person is who they say they are.
Use strong, unique passwords for associated accounts
While two-factor authentication is a great security measure, it’s equally important to ensure that your WhatsApp-associated accounts, such as your email or cloud storage accounts (Google Drive or iCloud), also have strong, unique passwords. Use combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters, and avoid obvious passwords like birth dates or simple number sequences.
Conclusion
In an increasingly complex digital landscape, it is crucial that users take a proactive approach to online security. WhatsApp’s security settings are powerful and, when combined with good browsing practices and constant vigilance, can protect your conversations and personal data from hacking and abuse.
Protecting your information on WhatsApp isn’t just about trusting the technology, it’s also about adopting safe and conscious habits when using the app. With these additional practices, you’ll be better prepared to face threats and ensure that your conversations remain private, secure, and protected from cyberattacks.
