Is Whatsapp Safe and Secure? + 5 Safety Tips
By Corbin HartwickUpdated on March 14, 2018
Now that we’ve gone over what WhatsApp is and how to start messaging with it, you may still be curious about how safe WhatsApp really is. We understand that most people will want to ensure their own safety before downloading and using an app that’s new to them, so we want to give you the reassurance you’re looking for. In this article, we’ll be covering how safe and secure the app is, and we’ll give you some tips on how to stay safe when using it.
Is WhatsApp safe?
WhatsApp is as safe as other communication apps of its kind, and a bit safer than most social networks. It doesn’t ask for (or store) much personal information beyond your user name, profile picture, and phone number. It also only uses contacts whom you already know or have approved.
WhatsApp also forbids behaviour or content that is illegal, obscene, threatening, intentionally offensive, or simply meant to harass other users. That’s not to say, however, that these kinds of things don’t make it onto WhatsApp in rare circumstances.
How secure is Whatsapp?
Yes, WhatsApp is secure, as it encrypts content sent between users’ phones, and does not store any information about you or your contacts besides your phone numbers However, WhatsApp has no password locks for accounts, so be careful whom you allow to use your phone.
With all of the above information in mind, here are a few tips for using WhatsApp safely.
Top 5 WhatsApp safety tips
1. Control who can see information about you.
Through your privacy settings on WhatsApp, you can control who can see each of three pieces of information about you: your profile picture, your personal status message, and when you last used the app (if you’re offline). If you choose “Everyone,” all users can see that piece of information. If you choose “My Contacts,” only people whom you have added as contacts can see that information. Choosing “Nobody” prevents anyone from seeing that information, whether they are your contacts or not. Note, however, that you cannot choose to appear offline if you are currently online with WhatsApp.
In addition, WhatsApp has a function called “read receipts” that sends you a notification when someone reads a message that you sent them and vice-versa. You can turn this on or off as you choose, though it only applies to personal conversations and not group chats.
See our privacy and account settings article to learn how to adjust these settings.
2. If you don’t want to interact with someone, block them.
If a user on WhatsApp is bothering you, then you can block them. When you block a user, they will not be able to see any changes to your profile picture, personal status message, or online status (including when you last used WhatsApp). They will also be unable to call or message you, and vice-versa.
To learn how to block or unblock a user, see our tutorial on how to use WhatsApp, and read the heading “How to Block a WhatsApp Contact.”
3. Be careful what you choose to send through WhatsApp.
Something you should always remember when using a social network or any other sort of communication tool is to be careful about what you share with other people. The reason for this is that once you do share content with others, you are often no longer in control of it. This holds true for WhatsApp.
WhatsApp itself does not store any content that you share over it. However, the people whom you send that content to can store it, and even share it with their contacts. So before you send a text message, picture, video, audio message, or current location indicator to someone, ask yourself if you would be okay with potentially letting other people whom that person knows see it.
4. If you see something problematic on WhatsApp, report it.
If you see something or someone breaking the rules, you can report the offending content or person. Just go into your settings, tap Help, and then tap Contact Us. You can then explain what the problem is, and add screenshots as evidence of your issue.
5. If an extreme situation arises, contact the local authorities.
Though it’s certainly very rare, it may happen that you run into a situation on WhatsApp where someone repeatedly issues credible threats to harm you, themselves, or someone else. If you ever feel that you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the local police, emergency services, suicide prevention hotline, or whatever authorities are best equipped to handle the situation at hand.
That’s some need-to-know information about safety and security on WhatsApp! To learn more about the app, like the pros and cons, how much it costs to use, and of course, how to use the app, check out the rest of our free WhatsApp course!