Securing your whatsapp chats
Some people here are saying why should they worry about securing whatsapp facebook as they have nothing to hide. Its not about hiding but about keeping your information (financial accounts, credit card, business details) safe from hackers who otherwise could cause you a misfortune. Many times spouses and family members share credit cards etc on whatsapp even aadhaar details.
Backing up WhatsApp chats may appear as a very simple process but it may not be a good idea to keep chat backups without knowing how things work. Also, if you have some personal chats that are quite old and irrelevant, it may be better to delete them right away from WhatsApp chat database. As for your WhatsApp account, securing it with two-factor authentication makes sense but a small mistake can lock you out forever. Here are things you should know about WhatsApp chats backup.
WhatsApp chats backed up on Google Drive or Apple iCloud are unsecured
WhatsApp is only able to provide end-to-end encryption (E2EE) over its platform.The moment your chats leave WhatsApp, you lose encryption. This means all chats saved on Google Drive and iCloud are unencrypted and can be read by others easily if they happen to get those chat backups.
Having a strong WhatsApp pin is the only way to prevent someone else from using your account
WhatsApp offers two-factor authentication is simply a six-digit code that helps you to protect your account from third-party intervention. While a hacker or any agency can clone your mobile phone and SIM, they would need the 2FA code to get in your WhatsApp account.
You will get locked out of your WhatsApp account if you use a wrong email ID with WhatsApp pin
WhatsApp allows its users to provide an email ID to retrieve this 2FA Pin in case they forget it. However, there’s an option of not providing your email ID. Also, WhatsApp doesn’t verify the email ID, in case you type it incorrectly, your WhatsApp account may not be restored if you happen to forget the WhatsApp PIN.
You lose E2E encryption if you export WhatsApp chats
You lose E2E encryption if you export WhatsApp chats
If you wish to save WhatsApp chats in your email ID, then note that these chats are unencrypted and anyone can easily read them.
You can transfer WhatsApp chats to a microSD card or pen drive
You can transfer WhatsApp chats to a microSD card or pen drive
WhatsApp allows you to transfer chat backups to a local storage like a microSD card or pen drive. You can easily do it by copy-pasting the database files from the WhatsApp folder in your phone.
You can delete all WhatsApp chat backups from your phone or Google Drive
In case, you want to delete WhatsApp chat backups altogether, you can delete the database files from the WhatsApp folder on your phone. Just use any file manager to find these backup files. Also, by accessing Google Drive on a desktop, you can find and delete all WhatsApp backup files forever.
WhatsApp officially doesn’t allow transferring of chats between Android smartphone and iPhone
WhatsApp officially doesn’t allow transferring of chats between Android smartphone and iPhone
If you are using an iPhone and wish to shift to an Android phone, then you may have to forget the chat backups as WhatsApp doesn’t allow you to transfer chats between iOS and Android. However, there are many third-party tools that may claim to do the job but it may not work always. more
Backing up WhatsApp chats may appear as a very simple process but it may not be a good idea to keep chat backups without knowing how things work. Also, if you have some personal chats that are quite old and irrelevant, it may be better to delete them right away from WhatsApp chat database. As for your WhatsApp account, securing it with two-factor authentication makes sense but a small mistake can lock you out forever. Here are things you should know about WhatsApp chats backup.
WhatsApp chats backed up on Google Drive or Apple iCloud are unsecured
WhatsApp is only able to provide end-to-end encryption (E2EE) over its platform.The moment your chats leave WhatsApp, you lose encryption. This means all chats saved on Google Drive and iCloud are unencrypted and can be read by others easily if they happen to get those chat backups.
Having a strong WhatsApp pin is the only way to prevent someone else from using your account
WhatsApp offers two-factor authentication is simply a six-digit code that helps you to protect your account from third-party intervention. While a hacker or any agency can clone your mobile phone and SIM, they would need the 2FA code to get in your WhatsApp account.
You will get locked out of your WhatsApp account if you use a wrong email ID with WhatsApp pin
WhatsApp allows its users to provide an email ID to retrieve this 2FA Pin in case they forget it. However, there’s an option of not providing your email ID. Also, WhatsApp doesn’t verify the email ID, in case you type it incorrectly, your WhatsApp account may not be restored if you happen to forget the WhatsApp PIN.
You lose E2E encryption if you export WhatsApp chats
You lose E2E encryption if you export WhatsApp chats
If you wish to save WhatsApp chats in your email ID, then note that these chats are unencrypted and anyone can easily read them.
You can transfer WhatsApp chats to a microSD card or pen drive
You can transfer WhatsApp chats to a microSD card or pen drive
WhatsApp allows you to transfer chat backups to a local storage like a microSD card or pen drive. You can easily do it by copy-pasting the database files from the WhatsApp folder in your phone.
You can delete all WhatsApp chat backups from your phone or Google Drive
In case, you want to delete WhatsApp chat backups altogether, you can delete the database files from the WhatsApp folder on your phone. Just use any file manager to find these backup files. Also, by accessing Google Drive on a desktop, you can find and delete all WhatsApp backup files forever.
WhatsApp officially doesn’t allow transferring of chats between Android smartphone and iPhone
WhatsApp officially doesn’t allow transferring of chats between Android smartphone and iPhone
If you are using an iPhone and wish to shift to an Android phone, then you may have to forget the chat backups as WhatsApp doesn’t allow you to transfer chats between iOS and Android. However, there are many third-party tools that may claim to do the job but it may not work always. more
Viewed by 1569
View all 9 comments Below 9 comments
*If Aadhar Card is Linked to All, If Compulsory Bank Transactions if Rs2,000/- and above FB, WHATSAPP etc etc would not have taken Place for Marketing. This is the Main issue AND NOT THE OTHER MULTIPLE ISSUES OF MISUSE. more
Sep 28
With all these provisions a good cyber lab can get all the information they need. Take the 30 kg gold smuggling case that happened in Kerala through a diplomatic baggage. The wise men traced that it happened 21 times in the past couple of years. If one do something illegal or steal "other people's money you are sure to get caught (if they want to). Keep scaring people so that they can go back to cash deals. more
Sep 28
Thanks for taking the time to inform the readers about WhatsApp security arrangements and the need to be careful when transferring data to third party storage. You have done a great service. Best wishes. more
Sep 28
