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Boost your security and privacy on WhatsApp with these 8 essential features. From Disappearing Messages to Two-Factor Authentication, discover how to protect yourself from scammers and hackers in this comprehensive guide.
WhatsApp's Privacy Checkup feature allows users to control who sees their data. Disappearing Messages provides an additional layer of security against spyware attacks or physical device breaches. Two-Factor Authentication, including a Security PIN and passkeys, protects chats from prying eyes. App Lock feature prevents push notifications from appearing on the lock screen and protects the app via FaceID or Touch ID. Chat Lock feature locks sensitive conversations away from the main list. Advanced Chat Privacy helps prevent people taking your chats outside of the app. Disable Read Receipts prevents recipients from seeing when they've read a message via blue-tick read receipts.
In the era of digital communication, messaging apps like WhatsApp have become an indispensable part of our lives. With over 3 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. However, its ubiquity also makes it a target for attackers and scammers who seek to exploit user data and compromise their security. In this article, we will delve into eight essential features on WhatsApp that can boost your security and privacy, helping you to protect yourself from unwanted intrusions and ensure a safe and private communication experience.
To start with, it's essential to familiarize ourselves with WhatsApp's Privacy Checkup feature in the settings under Privacy. This feature allows users to control who sees data such as profile photos, About information, and status, enabling them to add extra privacy to their profiles by adjusting the last Seen/Online setting to "Nobody." Furthermore, users can choose who is able to contact them on WhatsApp by blocking unwanted calls and messages, specifying who can add them to groups, silencing unknown callers, and managing their blocked contacts.
Another crucial feature that can help secure chats against unauthorized access or exploitation is Disappearing Messages. This feature allows users to set a period of time for texts to stay visible before they are deleted, providing an additional layer of security against spyware attacks or physical device breaches. Messages can be set to disappear after 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days after they're sent. However, it's essential to note that this feature relies on trust and cannot guarantee that what is sent will be deleted everywhere all the time.
For added protection, WhatsApp offers Two-Factor Authentication including a Security PIN. This PIN works as two-factor authentication to protect chats from prying eyes by requiring users to input a security code in addition to their phone number when setting up an account or resetting verification. Users can also add passkeys to protect their WhatsApp accounts for extra security.
Furthermore, WhatsApp's App Lock feature is essential for protecting the app itself from unauthorized access. By enabling this feature, users can prevent push notifications from appearing on the lock screen, thereby preventing others from seeing sensitive information. Additionally, users can protect the app via FaceID or Touch ID on the iPhone or with Android's Fingerprint Lock.
The Chat Lock feature also plays a significant role in boosting security and privacy on WhatsApp. This feature allows users to lock specific chats so they appear in a separate folder away from the main list, protecting sensitive conversations from prying eyes. To enable this feature, users can go to Settings > Privacy > App Lock for individual chats or group chats.
Another feature that deserves attention is Advanced Chat Privacy. This feature helps prevent people taking your chats outside of the app, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using your messages for AI features. However, it's essential to note that users who aren't on the latest version of WhatsApp may still be able to share chats outside of the app, such as auto-downloading media, without being notified.
Finally, users can also take advantage of Disable Read Receipts, which allows them to prevent recipients from seeing when they've read a message via blue-tick read receipts. While this feature works both ways, disabling it prevents others from seeing when you've read their messages. Users can toggle this feature off in Settings > Privacy > Read Receipts.
In conclusion, using these eight essential features on WhatsApp can significantly boost security and privacy for its users. By familiarizing themselves with the app's advanced settings, such as Disappearing Messages, Two-Factor Authentication including a Security PIN, App Lock, Chat Lock, Advanced Chat Privacy, Disable Read Receipts, and enabling features like two-factor authentication and passkeys, users can protect their communications against unwanted intrusions and ensure a safe and private communication experience.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Boosting-Security-and-Privacy-on-WhatsApp-8-Essential-Features-to-Know-ehn.shtml
https://www.wired.com/story/5-features-that-boost-security-and-privacy-on-whatsapp/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unlocking-whatsapp-8-hidden-features-boost-your-privacy-jha-zkzpc
https://www.analyticsinsight.net/tech-news/whatsapp-privacy-top-features-to-activate-right-away
Published: Sun Jan 4 05:20:31 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
