WhatsApp on Tuesday shared four ways a user can keep their chats “safe, secure and private”.
WhatsApp‘s message came on #SaferInternetDay, on which the messaging platform renewed its commitment to users to protect their privacy.
Two-Step Verification
The platform said that the first measure a user must take is to enable “two-step verification”. This is an “optional feature to add a PIN to your account”. In addition, it keeps the account “super-duper secure”.
Furthermore, a step-by-step video explains how to enable the feature.
The second step, after adding a PIN, is to input a recovery email address, in case the PIN needs to be reset.
Two step verification is an optional feature to add a PIN to your account, making it super duper secure. pic.twitter.com/8jrVYLlfNM
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 9, 2021
Group Privacy
The app also revealed that a user has full control over who can add them to groups.
When we open our app:
- Click on the three dots on the top right.
- Go to settings
- Click on Account
- Select Privacy
- In the Group section select who can add you into groups
Options include “everyone”, contacts only, or specific contacts who can add you to groups.
You have control over who can add you to a group. You can pick ‘everyone’, just your contacts, or you can select which of your contacts can add you to a group. https://t.co/o0q72glsI3
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 9, 2021
WhatsApp Spam Reporting
If you are being disturbed by messages from someone not in your contacts list, and if the messages look “spammy” or “suspicious”, you can report it instantly. The option appears when you open the chat window. You can simply select the report option with the downvote button, as shown in the screenshot below.
Been messaged by someone who isn’t in your contacts list? Does it look spammy or suspicious? You can report it quickly and easily pic.twitter.com/cvbyUid6e8
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 9, 2021
WhatsApp Profile Privacy
We can also set privacy to who can view our Personal information. Options include everyone, contacts only, or no one. This can be set for the profile picture, the last seen info, and the about info.
Choose how you show up. You can set your profile photo, ‘last seen’, and your ‘about info’, to be seen by everyone, only your contacts, or no one at all. https://t.co/EfiRoRTajP
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 9, 2021
Message Privacy
The platform once again reminds everyone that their chats are completely private and no one can see them, not even the platform.
💚 And as a reminder, no one can see your personal messages, not even WhatsApp 💚
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) February 9, 2021