Use Whatsapp without giving up access to your contacts (Actionable Privacy Tip #1)
You can use Whatsapp perfectly well without giving it access to your contact list. It takes 10 seconds to make this change. Yes there are a few inconveniences but, like me, you might find that these are so small that it is well worth implementing this privacy tip.
How? 🤷♂️
On iOS Settings > Whatsapp > Contacts - Toggle OFF. Screen recording 🎥
On Android Settings > Applications > WhatsApp > Permissions > Contacts - Toggle OFF. Screenshot 📷
Why? 🤔
Across its range of mobile and web apps, Facebook continues to harvest data and build up a profile about you. By knowing who you message, how frequently, at what time, and sometimes even what you say to them, you allow Facebook to enrich its knowledge of you without getting much in return.
Combine that with the information that Facebook already has on the people you message and it becomes easier to identify your politics, personal preferences, niche interests and habits - and exploit them.
By removing Whatsapp's access to your contacts, you prevent the app from sending an up to date list of your contacts (and their various phone numbers, your notes about them etc.) to Facebook.
What about ... ? ☝️
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Sending Messages is still very easy. Just hit the compose icon on the top right of the screen and type in the number you want to message. Screenshot 📷
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Starting Groups - Whatsapp will restrict your ability to create groups. The easiest workaround is to have a friend create the group and send invites -- or if you want to make a group with its own join link you can still invite people by sharing that link with them.
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You will see your contacts by their phone numbers rather than their names. However you can still find chats with a someone particular by using the search box - chances are you will have used their name in the chat or you will know the right search word to identify the chat with them.
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Can I stop using Whatsapp altogether? Of course, there are many alternatives with comparable features and in the past year or two I have found that it has become much easier to convince your friends to switch. Signal is a good alternative - it's fully E2E encrypted, supports GIFs, disappearing messages and face blurring for photos. You can see SecureMessagingApps.com for a comparison of several alternatives.
Have you implemented this tip? Is there a something you strongly agree or disagree with? Share it with me by sending a quick reply to this email.