Maintaining good security on our mobile phone has become essential. Possibly WhatsApp is an application that the vast majority of us use on a daily basis. Through it we communicate and share data, photographs, videos or personal audio, as well as what we are doing at all times. On several occasions, security flaws in the instant messaging app have been revealed and exposed, but making WhatsApp more secure is easier than you might think.
Protecting your WhatsApp account is basic. In it we share information on a daily basis and that it is safe also depends on how we have configured the app. To keep your data safe and prevent your account from being stolen, you should follow this series of guidelines and advice.
End-to-end encrypted copies
WhatsApp periodically makes backup copies . If you have an Android mobile, these copies are saved in Google Drive and if you are an iOS user you will have them available in iCloud. Regarding this topic, it is important that you have the end-to-end backup option activated.
It should be clear that WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption in chats when they are transmitted. Where it doesn’t do end-to-end encryption by default is on backups. Therefore, it is an aspect that depends on whether we activate it or not.
on Android
Follow the next steps:
- Enter the app settings
- Go to Settings
- Click on chat
- Click on backup
- Enable end-to-end encrypted backup option
End-to-end encryption on Android
on iPhone
If you have an iPhone, the steps to follow are very similar:
- Access the settings
- Go to Settings at the bottom right
- Go to chat
- Backup and enable end-to-end encrypted backup
- Once we click on activate We can create the password or use a 64-digit encryption key and let the app generate it for us.
End-to-End Encryption on iPhone
With this simple adjustment, the application will ensure that all the information in the backup is encrypted and that only we can access it .
Two-Step Verification
Two-step verification will also allow us to add extra security to our account. A security method in which it is not enough to verify your phone in WhatsApp, but it will also ask you to enter a six-digit PIN code that will make it much more secure.
Activate on Android
- open whatsapp
- Go to Settings/Configuration
- Choose the Account option
- Click on Two-Step Verification
- Choose the Activate option
WhatsApp two-step verification on Android
Activate on iOS
Following practically the same steps we will be able to activate this security measure on our iPhone:
- Settings/Configuration
- Bill
- Go to Two-Step Verification
- Activate and enter the 6-digit PIN you want
WhatsApp two-step verification on iOS
privacy settings
In the Privacy section of WhatsApp we can activate certain options that provide additional information to our contacts and that we may not be interested in having access to. For example, status updates, classic read receipts or requiring Face ID to unlock WhatsApp. In both Android and iOS you have access to these privacy options through the following route: WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Privacy
Finally, another of the security measures that you can take to make WhatsApp more secure is to block all those contacts that you do not want to be able to contact you through the instant messaging app. Following the same route mentioned above you will be able to consult all the contacts that you have blocked and by tapping on the add icon you will be able to add those you want to the list. A good alternative if you need someone not to bother you anymore or you have received a suspicious message with which you could fall into a scam.