WhatsApp is the world’s most popular instant messaging application with more than 1 billion users. After it was acquired by Facebook Inc. in 2014, the app grew massively. It is precisely because of its very high popularity that it has become a fundamental tool of global communication, but this feature also makes it risky if we do not know how to use it properly.
So here are the highly recommended tips to use Whatsapp properly:
Always log out of WhatsApp Web on a public computer
WhatsApp Web, a desktop client application is spectacular. Being able to converse with your contacts from any device, with the only requirement of having your phone on hand with Internet access, is very useful. However, you should be careful, because many times when we are short of time or in trouble, we leave the session open and we don’t notice it. Leaving your login on a public or third party computer is a huge mistake. At best, someone might play a joke on you, but if you’re unlucky, someone might misuse it and do something embarrassing or dangerous in your name.
Avoid sharing personal information
While WhatsApp has tried to improve the privacy of its users’ conversations, such as implementing end-to-end encryption (i.e. chats not stored on the application’s servers), it is best to be more cautious in these cases. Never send personal and confidential information, either in writing or in images. Avoid sharing credit card details, bank information, identification documents (passports or whatever they have in your country) and passwords.
Periodically clean your WhatsApp
When you send or receive voice, image, video, and document files, they are stored on your computer in the configuration and settings folders. It doesn’t matter if you delete these files from your gallery or library, because many times they will still be inside your phone.
Don’t believe everything you receive and avoid sharing false information
Sending any file, from any source, is very easy on WhatsApp. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t have a filter that avoids sharing uncomfortable or false information, so you will have to be the careful of what you receive and send.
Here are couple of examples of fake messages – A millionaire businessmen in Nigeria has a large sum of money and doesn’t have an heir to give it to, so he has selected you to receive the huge amount of money. Share your details, in order to receive the money.
Or If you don’t share this message to all your contacts, WhatsApp will unsubscribe from the service, etc….
The best thing in these cases is always to confirm the source of the information, and if in doubt, refrain from opening links and forwarding it to your contacts.
If you have a contact who tends to share information that is invalid, let them know your disagreement and ask them to reconsider, because false information on the Internet, and more through WhatsApp, spreads like a fire.
