WhatsApp is the world’s most widely used messaging app and a go-to messaging platform for billions of users. Owned by Facebook this messaging app is used as a tool for Facebook to collect data about its users. Recently hackers were able to gain unauthorized access to mobiles and other devices using WhatsApp. This breach has resulted in major concerns about the data privacy of WhatsApp users. Users are also concerned about WhatsApp’s privacy practices and how they can improve their privacy while using the messaging app.
Here are some WhatsApp privacy questions and their answers that users of WhatsApp should know about:
● How does WhatsApp deal with user privacy?
WhatsApp deals with user privacy by using end to end encryption of user data, localizing messaging data on user’s device, regularly removing any malicious and fake WhatsApp apps, collecting metadata in unidentifiable form.
● How can you improve your privacy if you use WhatsApp?
Disable data sharing with Facebook, enable two-factor authentication, disable chat backup, and make sure you have the legit and up to data WhatsApp application to improve your WhatsApp privacy.
● How can you get information removed from WhatsApp?
You can do remove your information from WhatsApp by deleting your WhatsApp account permanently.
● How can you find out what information WhatsApp has about you?
You can request WhatsApp to provide you with a report of your data that is stored by the company.
● Does WhatsApp tell you who they share your information with?
WhatsApp shares your data with Facebook, iCloud, Google Drive, third party partners, and law enforcement.
● Does WhatsApp remove user information from third parties?
Data shared with parties other than WhatsApp’s third-party partners can not be removed by WhatsApp.
Although WhatsApp is considered as one of the safest messaging platforms available on the internet there are always some loopholes that hackers can use to gain access to your data. So the only way to ensure that you can safely use WhatsApp is by understanding how WhatsApp privacy works and learning about ways you can control your data’s privacy. And in this article, we are going to discuss all of the WhatsApp privacy questions along with their answers in detail to help you make sure your data stays private while using WhatsApp.
Contents
- How does WhatsApp deal with user privacy?
- How can you improve your privacy if you use WhatsApp?
- How can you get information removed from WhatsApp?
- How can you find out what information WhatsApp has about you?
- Does WhatsApp tell you who they share your information with?
- Does WhatsApp remove user information from third parties?
How does WhatsApp deal with user privacy?
WhatsApp shares a majority of its infrastructure with Facebook and this allows WhatsApp to use some of the most sophisticated and advanced security measures to protect user data. WhatsApp handles user privacy by:
● End to end encryption of user data:
WhatsApp utilizes end to end encryption technology to turn regular text, image, voice, or any other form of user data into an unreadable form that can only be read by the user or the person the user wants to send the data to. This makes sure that even if someone intercepts the user data while it is traveling or stored in the user’s device the software or person trying to gain unauthorized access to the data will not be able to make sense of the data. This encryption is secured with a key that even WhatsApp can’t access your messages and communications.
● localizing messaging data on the user’s device:
Saving data such as messages and multimedia content on servers can be a huge privacy risk as the data might get accessed by unwanted malicious entities. This is why WhatsApp stores all of the user’s communication data on the user’s device. This puts the user in control of their data and reduces the risk of data being stolen from a centralized server.
● Regularly removing malicious and fake WhatsApp apps and software:
WhatsApp regularly takes down fake copies of WhatsApp that can be found on app stores or online. These fake WhatsApp applications pose as WhatsApp to trick users into logging in with their information and can steal private user information. But WhatsApp cracks down on these imposter apps to ensure that users don’t accidentally download these fake copies of their application and risk their privacy.
● Collecting metadata in the unidentifiable form:
WhatsApp claims that the metadata it collects from its users is not collected in personally identifiable form. This ensures that the necessary data that WhatsApp needs to store or share with partners can’t be traced to any specific individual thus ensuring user privacy.
How can you improve your privacy if you use WhatsApp?
You don’t have to rely solely on the privacy measures of WhatsApp to make sure that your privacy stays intact. Here are some ways you can improve the level of your privacy while using WhatsApp.
● Disable data sharing with Facebook:
WhatsApp is a Facebook-owned firm, and it doesn’t come as a surprise that WhatsApp and Facebook share user data to provide some features and services between both platforms. However, WhatsApp gives you the option to opt-out of sharing data with Facebook when agreeing to the terms and conditions when you first install WhatsApp. But even if you have accidentally agreed to data sharing with Facebook you can disable it within 30 days after agreeing to data sharing with Facebook through the mobile application.
You can disable data sharing with Facebook by opening your WhatsApp app on your device and then open settings. In the settings menu, you will find an option named “Account” by tapping on this option you can find the option named “Share my account info”. Now you can simply uncheck the box to disable data sharing with Facebook.
● Enable two-factor authentication:
Two-factor authentication is a technology that comes into play whenever you log into your WhatsApp account from a device. This allows WhatsApp to confirm that it is you who is trying to log in to your account. You can activate two-factor authentication for your WhatsApp account by going into settings of your WhatsApp application and tapping on the “Account” option. Here you will find the option named “Two-step verification” and by enabling this option you can create a unique pin that you have to provide every time you log into your WhatsApp account.
● Encrypt your backup or disable your chat backup:
There are several ways to create a WhatsApp backup, you can make a local backup on your phone (safest options, but only on Android), and backup to the Google Drive (Android) or to iCloud on an iPhone. But theses backups are not as secure as WhatsApp chats that have end to end encryption. The text conversations will be encrypted by WhatsApp before starting the backup, and the backup itself will be encrypted by Google (Google Drive) or Apple (iCloud) on their server platform (similar to other files you store there). Media attachments are not encrypted by WhatsApp.
The problem with the WhatsApp encryption is that the encryption key that is used is generated using your phone number. If the number is known it is possible to generate this key. That means that when somebody can access to the backup on the Google Drive or iCloud it potentially would be possible to decrypt it.
As extra security you can turn on ‘Password protect backups’ (if you have this option). Or you can disable chat backup if you don’t want WhatsApp to back up your messages to the Google Drive or iCloud. Disabling backups are going to make sure that all of your data stays on your device and doesn’t get shared online.
You can disable chat backup by opening WhatsApp and going into settings. Then tap of “Chats” and here you will find the “Chat backup” by tapping on this option you can then tap on “Back up to Google Drive” and select “Never” option to stop backing up your messages on Google Drive. While for an Apple device you can simply go to the settings of your Apple device and pick the “iCloud” option. Then find WhatsApp in the list and toggle the switch next to it off to stop backing up your messages on iCloud.
● Make sure you have the legit and up to data WhatsApp application:
When you search for WhatsApp on any app store online you will probably come across multiple results. And if you end up downloading a fake WhatsApp app on your mobile device or desktop then chances are your information and other data might get stolen by the developers of the counterfeit app. So make sure that you have the verified WhatsApp app on your mobile and computer. Similarly, WhatsApp rolls out updates regularly and the updates contain security and privacy updates as well that fix the existing bugs and make WhatsApp more secure. So if your WhatsApp application is not up to date make sure to update it.
How can you get information removed from WhatsApp?
The only way you can make sure that your data is removed from WhatsApp servers is by deleting your WhatsApp account. You can delete your WhatsApp account by going into the settings of your WhatsApp mobile application and selecting the “Account” option from the settings menu. Here you will have to tap on the “Delete my account” option and follow the instructions to delete your WhatsApp account and all of the information associated with it.
How can you find out what information WhatsApp has about you?
WhatsApp provides a “Request account info” option that is built into your WhatsApp mobile application. You can use this feature to request a report of your WhatsApp data. To find out what information WhatsApp has about you simply go to the settings menu of your WhatsApp application and tap on “Account”. From the Account menu tap on “Request account info” to send a request for your data report. You will receive a notification from WhatsApp within the next 3 days saying “Your account info report is now available”. You can then download the report by going into the “Request account info” option and tapping on the “Download report”.
WhatsApp mentions in their privacy policy that they share user data with the following parties:
● Facebook:
Since WhatsApp is a Facebook-owned company and uses the same storage and services infrastructure as Facebook your information is also shared with Facebook and other companies that are owned by Facebook. But WhatsApp ensures that the data is shared only with the Facebook companies and no one else has access to the information except Facebook.
● iCloud and Google Drive:
When you use iCloud or Google Drive to back up your chats and conversation your information is shared with these companies as well. And WhatsApp informs that Apple and Google can access your information when you use their services to backup your WhatsApp data.
● Third-party partners:
The third-party partners can only access user data of WhatsApp users under strict terms and conditions. These third-party partners include customer support providers, data analytics service providers, and advertisement partners that WhatsApp employs to provide their services to the end-user.
● Law enforcement:
WhatsApp might also share your information with law enforcement if it is required by law. Or if you violate any legal terms of WhatsApp usage or get involved in any illegal activity while using WhatsApp.
Does WhatsApp remove user information from third parties?
WhatsApp only controls the information shared with the service providers and partners that comply with its privacy regulations. And third parties other than the partners of WhatsApp do not comply with WhatsApp’s privacy policy and the data that has been shared with these third parties are governed as per their privacy policy. So to get your WhatsApp chat information removed from let’s say Google Drive you will have to contact Google directly as WhatsApp can’t delete your information from Google Drive for you.
