Trust WhatsApp??

By VARINDIA - 2023-05-26

Concerns have been raised about potential surveillance or privacy breaches involving WhatsApp. Experts are exploring that - is it necessary to live the life with a surveillance app like WhatsApp?WhatsApp scams from international numbers seem to be rising. In the past few days, several users have reported receiving voice and video calls on WhatsApp from unknown international numbers and there has reportedly been a sudden increase in such calls on WhatsApp in the last few days. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk’s tweet comes amid a widespread WhatsApp scam involving international numbers.

In the past, there have been reports of government surveillance and hacking attempts targeting WhatsApp users. It's always advisable to stay informed about the latest security updates and exercise caution while using any online communication platform.

Earlier we have experienced the news on Pegasus spyware, which is used like a cyber weapon. It had the capability for infecting Android and iOS phones. Today, there are more then 10 companies who are producing similar kind or even better and customised spyware as per the need.

Two billion people worldwide are using WhatsApp so it’s almost certain that people you want to message already have WhatsApp. It introduced end-to-end encryption as a standard feature last year.

WhatsApp has faced its fair share of challenges from a couple of years. From the announcement that the platform would share data with parent company Meta, to the six-hour power outage in October last year which saw Telegram gain a record 70 million users.

WhatsApp says that the only data it shares with Facebook pertains to helping prevent spam and does not concern advertising. The WhatsApp website claims: “Today, WhatsApp does not share your personal information with Facebook to improve your Facebook product experiences or provide you more relevant Facebook ad experiences on Facebook.”

There was a news on how, WhatsApp allegedly accessing microphone on Google Pixel 7, Galaxy S23 & other phones even when not in use. A recent report uncovers Microphone always keep switched on after WhatsApp call.

The green dot on the upper right corner on my screen is always on and the microphone is used by the WhatsApp. The Green dot disappear after restarting but again appears after making a WhatsApp call.

I have given the permission of microphone to WhatsApp to use it while using the app , but it shows using microphone even after I stop using WhatsApp or also after I remove the WhatsApp from the running apps, sources said.

Whereas, WhatsApp claims that, strong encryption acts like an unbreakable digital lock that keeps the information you send over WhatsApp secure, helping protect you from hackers and criminals. Messages are only kept on your phone, and no one in between can read your message or listen to your call, not even WhatsApp. Your private conversations stay between you.

In a recent news, Twitter engineer's claim that WhatsApp had been using his mobile phone's microphone in the background while he was asleep.

For reference, the icon should only be active while the hardware involved is in use. For example, in the case of the microphone, the green dot will appear when recording voice notes, making video calls, etc.

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