With 2 billion active users exchanging messages on a daily basis making WhatsApp the most popular messaging application in the world and with the recent announcement pertinent to its new privacy policy, Facebook-owned WhatsApp is finding it hard to stay the course as WhatsApp witnessed a mass exodus which triggered users world-wide to commence shifting to another instant messaging service such as Telegram and Signal following the dissemination of 4000-word privacy policy.
" Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA" WhatsApp was quoted as saying. However, the statements made by WhatsApp had little impact on its user as they commenced flocking to other chat platforms. So, what does the new privacy policy entail that got users into a tizzy?
The new non-negotiable privacy policy as proclaimed by WhatsApp states that its parent company Facebook will access the messages sent on WhatsApp and intercept or utilize user data information to help advertisers identify and target its users to trigger advertisements on Facebook and its subsidiaries.
To salvage past glory and regain trust deficit, WhatsApp have had dismissed and debunked such claims, there are reasons why you should leave WhatsApp.
Here is an insight into the top ten reasons people should stop using WhatsApp or Not.
First things first, privacy comes to the fore. Usage of WhatsApp reveals your phone number to anyone - ample opportunity for miscreants to sabotage and breach your privacy. It's such an absolute breeze for anyone to gain access to your personal phone number - courtesy WhatsApp application. There is no option to hide your phone number once you have signed in to the app.
Needless to say, the aftermath of having your privacy intruded.
Your personal data is at risk
There have been instances in the past wherein Facebook has acknowledged that the private information of many users such as usernames, contact numbers, email IDs, and user preferences have been exposed as there have been remiss in protecting user data.
This connotes to Facebook having access to private user data across all its products and line of businesses including WhatsApp makes it a big concern and certainly, these practices are invasive for users. In summation, the question on everyone's mind is how can Facebook-owned WhatsApp be trusted with such a lineage of its parent?
Facebook purchased the messaging service WhatsApp for a staggering $19 billion and WhatsApp being Facebook's largest-ever acquisition - it was obvious that user data and private user information sharing between the two entities was in the offing and the victim of the merger - the end-users. The metadata of the users is something that is vulnerable and can be used at will to seek more information about the user and user behavior by anyone who has access to the metadata.
Metadata is information nuggets that are captured in the user interaction journey such as the duration of your chat session, whom you chat with, and how frequently you chat. All of these are encapsulated in information capsules and stored in the WhatsApp services which can be easily accessed and procured by Facebook. All your interactions and communications in the WhatsApp space can be traced and exposed with the help of metadata. Will you still use something that spies on your interactions and journey?
Deleted Messages can be viewed
Picture this - your private message mistakenly lands on the chat window of an unintended recipient - a recipient for whom your message was not intended. To dismiss the embarrassment, one tries to locate the delete icon to delete the message before it is seen by the unintended recipient. But even after doing so, can the message still be viewed or the said operation deletes the message from the recipient's chat window or for that matter, from WhatsApp's platform?
Well, there is a big chance that the recipient can recover the contents of the deleted message and read it.
Technically speaking, whenever a message is being deleted - the algorithm that governs WhatsApp is that the deleted message is not removed but kind of hides it by tagging with a label that reads as "The message was deleted". Hence, the message still resides on the recipient's end - this deleted message can be recovered and read by an application called WARM (WhatsApp Message Recovery). In addition, the "Clear All Chat" feature is not that powerful as all deleted messages are stored in the cloud permanently - once you decide to go for the backup operation. So, think again as you delete a message shared with your office colleagues or friends!
Devoid of editing sent messages feature
One of the biggest pet peeves is that users can't edit the messages that they have sent to a recipient. A WhatsApp user is devoid of this luxury to edit and rectify the message after being sent - in case it requires correction owing to an unintentional typing mistake or changing or adding something in the message already posted. This editing feature is one of the most loved features and is hailed as a "must-have" - but sadly, WhatsApp has turned a deaf ear to this. That being said, one of WhatsApp alternatives - Telegram boasts of this editing feature. Another reason to stop using WhatsApp.
Groups chats are not encrypted
Users are not aware of the fact that conversations flowing in WhatsApp groups are kept in the cloud where it is stored and there are no options to avoid such a thing. The bottom line is that the group chats are not encrypted at all.
There were instances in the past wherein the users of WhatsApp have been duped into installing third-party applications by the name of WhatsApp Gold and GB WhatsApp - both of these applications had been programmed for malicious intentions by injecting the phones with malware or stealing information and doing operations without the user's knowledge. This didn't go down well with WhatsApp users as it has kind of hit them hard as many users voiced security concerns.
Not a tool for Corporates
Many corporates have shown their concern about over-sharing or exchanging confidential information via WhatsApp messenger. With the recent changes in the WhatsApp privacy policy, many corporates or medium-sized business units have migrated to other chat applications as there is every risk of information getting leaked or intercepted.
iPad Support
For Apple fans, WhatsApp cannot be used on iPad as of now. There is no workaround solution to this, as well.
Muting All Groups in WhatsApp
If you are associated with multiple groups, there is no in-built option in WhatsApp by way of which you can mute all the groups at one go. In order to mute a group, you need to get inside each group and deal with the mute notifications option. Hence, there is no "one" operation to mute all groups - you need to do it individually - group by group.
Conclusion
Without any shadow of a doubt, there is an element of risk in using WhatsApp as it has the capability to access the private information of the user and leverage from the data collected from the users of the program. Although WhatsApp has declared to convince people that the user data will be inaccessible, however, the company can access user data with certitude. It's up to you now - whether WhatsApp is a boon or a bane.