To ensure that your WhatsApp account remains secure, here’s a comprehensive checklist covering key areas of security and privacy settings:
1. Privacy Settings
These settings limit who can access your personal information and activity on WhatsApp.
– Last Seen: Set to “Nobody” or “My Contacts” to prevent strangers from knowing when you were last active.
– Profile Photo: Choose “My Contacts” or “Nobody” to control who can view your photo.
– Status Updates: Customize visibility using “My Contacts” or “My Contacts Except…” to exclude specific people.
– About: Control who can see your “About” information, such as your bio. Set it to “Nobody”, “My Contacts”, or “My Contacts Except…”.
– Live Location: If you’re sharing your location, always double-check who has access and remove access when no longer needed.
2. Advanced Settings
These settings add additional layers of protection for your WhatsApp communications.
โข Protect IP Address in Calls: Enable this setting to prevent hackers from tracking or targeting your IP address during voice or video calls.
โข Disable Link Previews: Enable this setting to prevent WhatsApp from automatically showing previews of links shared in messages, which can help you avoid malicious links.
How to enable:
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- Go to Settings > Go to โPrivacyโ >Scroll down to โAdvancedโ and click > Here click on both โProtect IP address in callsโ and โDisable link previews
3. Enable Two-Step Verification (2FA)
Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security, requiring both your SIM card (or phone) and a PIN to log into WhatsApp.
How to enable:
- Go to Settings > Account > Two-step Verification > Enable.oChoose a 6-digit PIN that you’ll need to enter when setting up WhatsApp on a new device.
- Provide an email address for recovery purposes in case you forget your PIN.
4. Additional Security Measures
Here are more ways to enhance your security and protect your account from threats.
โข Verify Unknown Contacts: Always be cautious when receiving messages from unfamiliar contacts. If possible, verify the personโs identity before sharing
sensitive information.
โข Regular App Updates: Ensure your WhatsApp app is always up to date. Developers frequently release updates that address security vulnerabilities.
โข Beware of Third-Party Apps: Do not use unofficial WhatsApp versions or mods (e.g., WhatsApp Plus), as they can compromise your privacy and security.
โข Encrypt Backup: Enable end-to-end encryption for your WhatsApp backups to protect your chat history in the cloud.
– Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-end Encrypted Backup.
– Screen Lock/Authentication: Consider enabling your deviceโs screen lock (PIN, fingerprint, Face ID) to protect access to WhatsApp.
5. Regularly Monitor Security Settings
It’s important to periodically review your WhatsApp security settings to ensure theyโre up to date:
โข Check Devices Connected: Go to Settings > Linked Devices to review and disconnect any devices you don’t recognize.
โข Backup and Export Chats: Regularly back up important chats, but be cautious about sharing sensitive information in messages or using cloud services.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ: The provided article is intended for educational and knowledge-sharing purposes related to cybersecurity only. Its primary goal is to educate and promote cybersecurity awareness among the cybersecurity communities.
