WhatsApp is currently one of the most popular messaging applications in the world, with millions of users using it daily for personal and work contact.
However, this popularity also makes WhatsApp an attractive target for hackers and increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud.
Recently, many reports have warned about new threats, showing that users cannot just rely on end-to-end encryption but need to proactively strengthen account security.
One of the notable risks is the GhostPairing trick, in which attackers trick users into linking WhatsApp accounts to their browsers or devices, thereby tracking conversation content.
In addition, researchers also pointed out that billions of phone numbers can be leaked through the application's communication search engine, leading to the risk of leakage of profile photos and personal data.
Faced with this situation, WhatsApp has added many layers of protection, such as password-encrypted backups and privacy-focused AI features. Along with that, users can also take advantage of eight important features to minimize risks.
Privacy check
First of all, the "Privacy Check" feature allows users to strictly control who is allowed to view profile photos, statuses, personal information and online times.
Users can also limit being added to unwanted groups, block strange links, and manage blocked lists.
Self-deleted message
This is a useful tool to reduce data traces. Users can set up self-delete messages after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days for all new conversations or individual conversations. However, this feature does not prevent screenshots or content copying.
Two-factor authentication
Another important layer of protection is verification of two factors. When activating the PIN code and the recovery email, the WhatsApp account will be better protected from the risk of being taken over, even if the bad guy gets the SMS verification code.
Lock apps and lock chat
Locking applications and locking conversations helps prevent others from accessing WhatsApp without biometric authentication. Users can lock each sensitive conversation separately to increase privacy.
Advanced security settings
WhatsApp also provides advanced security settings, allowing blocking messages from unclear sources, protecting IP addresses and disabling link previews, which are factors often exploited for tracking or fraud.
Advanced conversation security
With advanced chat security, users can limit downloading on the device, prevent sharing content outside of WhatsApp, and limit AI's use of messages. This feature is especially useful for groups or important personal conversations.
Turn off read notifications
In addition, turning off read notifications helps users avoid being tracked for usage habits, although it should be noted that this feature is not applicable to group chat and has two-way effect.
Control loading and unloading
Finally, controlling downloads to devices helps prevent images and videos from automatically being saved into the device, reducing the risk of data leakage. Users can also send content that is only viewed once to increase privacy.
