The other side of - WhatsApp Web

The digital revolution has given rise to many social networking apps used extensively in India. Most of the social networking apps are used prominently for official and personal communication. The scenario in India for using social networking apps is not well defined and hence the misuse of WhatsApp can be more than its constructive use and this is only going to increase.The darker side of WhatsApp Web and precautions to be taken. Since, this is a election time common persons should not be victimized. This is applicable to all business entities also.

With WhatsApp not adhering to the demands of the Government of India specifically on setting up local server and also in finding out the originator of the message, it is very clear that India shall be a major victim of cyber-crimes through this social networking app. The Government has not yet appointed any dedicated agency to check social networking apps related to its security and therefore it’s a major concern to all 23 Crores Indians using WhatsApp.

WhatsApp has an added feature of WhatsApp Web which is a quick and easy way to use WhatsApp messages on your desktops and laptops. It gives you most of the features of WhatsApp from your hand-held device to desktop. This is in essence a clone or a mirror of what’s happening on your mobile? And therefore, WhatsApp account is now active on more than one device. If a message comes to your phone, you’ll see it in WhatsApp Web. If your phone doesn’t get a message because it doesn’t have an active connection or it’s switched off, then you won’t see it in WhatsApp Web either.

While this feature is good but also got its own cup of woes. In one such incident a prominent entrepreneur in Maharashtra who was the admin of a business group had synched his mobile to WhatsApp Web on a public machine. This proved to be very costly for him. Three days later he was shocked to see that two unknown people were added to his business group by him. The two persons posted some objectionable and obscene clips in the group. When questioned by other group members he was completely blank as he had not added the two users, but it was shown as if he has added.

The entrepreneur lost his image among the other group members. He tried calling up the two numbers, but of no avail as the phone numbers were not in use. Further it was found that the SIM cards of those two numbers were blocked. He tried calling the two numbers on WhatsApp but they were never picked up. With no option to find out who they were, he removed those two persons from the group with a question how they were added without his knowledge?

With elections on the move, it is important that WhatsApp users use the app more judiciously keeping security as the prime concern. The awareness of app being used in a secured manner is least in India and therefore gives a chance to miscreants to use rival accounts and add users without the knowledge of the owner of the account to post objectionable information and creating law and order problem. In such instances the cops can book the admin, register a FIR and seek arrest. With no legal support from WhatsApp compounding with the problem of no localised server and not able to track the originator of the message because of its privacy policy can leave a huge deterrent factor in investigating the matter.

WhatsApp users using WhatsApp Web therefore has to take following stringent precautions:

1. Don’t sync your mobile device to any public machine

2. Never sync your mobile on multiple machines (Desktop / Laptop / iPad etc)

3. Once you sync your mobile to WhatsApp Web, don’t forget to log out

4. Don’t hand over your mobile in unknown hands

5. Give security preferably biometric to your mobile device

6. Keep a constant check on your WhatsApp web option. In this way you shall know all the devices which are synched to your WhatsApp account. Log out immediately from these devices.

7. Activate 2 step verification for your WhatsApp account

At the end of the day nothing is secure in this digital world. The user has to use his own discretion and be selective in communicating messages and should also be aware of the legal issues in the cyber world.

The author is , Dr.Harold D'Costa. President - Cyber Security Corporation