Burn these WhatsApp settings to the ground, y'all! According to Stiftung Warentest
- by Chuck Dude
- 2 Min
Immediately Adjust Three Key Settings, as Suggested by Consumer Reports Test - WhatsApp, as suggested by Wartest, needs immediate adjustments in these three aspects:
Cell phone in one hand, WhatsApp in the other—almost every smartphone user in Deutschland digs this combo. It's like bread and butter, or peanut butter and jelly, but with more potential for revealing embarrassing secrets! The Facebook subsidiary has taken over the German office and school yards, leaving most users in the dark about their privacy. But this big brother eye can be put out, with three simple settings available in the WhatsApp settings under "Account" and "Privacy."
Brb, kinda NSFW
First off, Stiftung Warentest advises keeping your profile picture, personal information, and status messages under lock and key. Under "Profile Photo," you can select whether everyone, only your contacts, or no one can see your photo. The minimum setting is "Only Contacts." You know, so some snooping randos don't find a picture of you cat-fishing or wearing that mullet wig. Next up, "About" allows you to set who can see your personal details—like your name or address—and you can select your contacts or make it invisible to everyone. Finally, "Status" lets you choose who can see your status messages. With Stiftung Warentest's recommendations, you can at least control who sees your lame jokes and political rants.
Living off the grid
Next, Stiftung Warentest suggests laying low and hiding your online status. In the default setting, everyone can see when you last used the messenger. This is like leaving your front door open for everyone to wander in, wondering what you're doing! Turn this setting off and no one will know if you're asleep, at work, or just ignoring a pesky coworker's urgent message. The only downside? You won't be able to see when others are online either... but hey, at least you'll have a chance to catch up on that TV show you've been meaning to watch!
It's the little things (or lack thereof)
Last but not least, Stiftung Warentest recommends turning off those famous blue ticks—you know, the ones that tell people if you've read their messages. When you turn them off, the other person will only know that the message has arrived, not that you've seen it. To do this, navigate to "Read Receipts" in the WhatsApp settings and toggle this off. Just remember that this setting is a two-way street: when you disable read receipts, you also won't be able to see when others have read your messages.
But don't worry—the blue ticks still appear in group chats, so you can still be shamed by your friends and bosses alike!
Even more secrets to keep under wraps
Besides these settings, Stiftung Warentest also mentions options to limit data access for Facebook. For example, in the privacy settings of your smartphone, WhatsApp can be denied access to contacts, photos, or the microphone. However, keep in mind that this might affect certain functions of the app.
Source: Stiftung Warentest
- Stiftung Warentest
- Messenger
- Kinder
- Deutschland
Additional Info
- Profile Photo: Select who can see your profile picture, personal information, and status updates by navigating to "Account" and "Privacy."
- Last Seen & Online: Block others from seeing when you were last active or your online status by going to "Account" > "Privacy" > "Last Seen" and "Online."
- Read Receipts: Turn off read receipts to prevent others from seeing if you've read their messages by going to "Account" > "Privacy" > "Read Receipts."
The Commission, not wanting to be left out in the privacy conversation, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the technology-driven lifestyle, especially among those who are constantly connected and active on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp for long hours.
As smartphone users become more aware of the potential data access by the likes of Facebook, they are acknowledging the importance of setting privacy preferences for WhatsApp, which includes limiting access to their contacts, photos, or microphone to maintain their personal information and lifestyle choices.
