WhatsApp brought out a new privacy policy update and its already
causing a havoc, this policy entails a further exchange of secured and
encrypted data and information between its pioneer company facebook. Whatsapp users
have only two options left, and it is either you accept the policy or delete
your account. This privacy and policy adjustment has made people migrate to
apps like Signal and Telegram.
The new whatsapp  update,
which will be released on February 8th, 2021 and it affects all WhatsApp users
in all countries except in Europe and the UK, where there are strict data
protection laws.
Users in these regions will be required to give their consent
for Facebook to access their data,in order to continue using the app, including
their phone numbers and information about how they interact with others.
What
Does The New policy Mean For You?
From February 8, WhatsApp will start sharing user data with its
parent company, Facebook.
While WhatsApp will start sharing data with Facebook, it’s
important to note that WhatsApp is encrypted by default, meaning Facebook will
not be able to see the contents of your messages.
However, it will be able to see the numbers in your contact
list, as well as how often you interact with them.
If you use WhatsApp you should have received a notification,
explaining the changes.
The notification outlines
the new data-sharing feature and urges you to ‘Agree’ with the conditions.
The requirement will apply regardless of whether or not the
WhatsApp user has a Facebook account.
The news has led many people to jump ship to rival apps,
according to data from Sensor Tower.
When the privacy policy changes were announced on January 7,
Telegram picked up nearly 1.7 million downloads and Signal gained 1.2 million
downloads, while WhatsApp, which usually dominates, gained just 1.3 million
downloads.
WhatsApp installations also fell approximately 13 percent to
10.3 million downloads in the first seven days of January, compared to the 7
days prior.
WhatsApp first alerted users to the new privacy policy changes
in a notification last week.
The privacy policy explains:
‘As part of the Facebook
Companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and share information with, the
other Facebook Companies.
‘We may use the information we
receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help
operate, provide, improve, understand, customise, support, and market our
Services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products.’
Essentially, this means Facebook will now be able to access
account information, including your phone number, information on how you
interact with other users, and logs of how often and how long you use WhatsApp.
Other data that could be shared with Facebook includes your IP
address, browser details, language, and time zone.
WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook in 2014 and has shared data
with its parent company since 2016.
WhatsApp offered a one-time opt-out for data sharing in 2016,
but now users are being forced to agree to the privacy policy to continue using
the app.
Many angry WhatsApp users have taken to Twitter to announce
their departure from the app, in light of the new privacy policy.
According to App Annie, WhatsApp’s ranking in both the UK
and the US has fallen following the news.
In the US, WhatsApp is now ranked number 38 in the download
charts, while it is number 10 in the UK – significantly lower than normal.
In contrast, both Telegram and Signal have risen up the ranks,
and are now numbered 13 and one in the UK download charts, respectively.
Jake Moore, Cybersecurity Specialist at ESET said it was no
surprise that many users were deleting WhatsApp following the privacy policy
update.
‘Being told that the app is unavailable unless you agree may not
always be the best way as people then feel forced to giving away their data,’
he said.
‘We may even see people move away from these apps to more
privacy-focused apps which more delicately protect our data.
‘It is incredibly important that users do all they can to
protect their private information, and they must realize how damaging it can be
if it gets into the wrong hands.’
WhatsApp has confirmed that users in the UK and Europe will not
have their data shared with Facebook.
‘For the avoidance of any doubt, it is still the case that
WhatsApp does not share European region WhatsApp user data with Facebook for
the purpose of Facebook using this data to improve its products or
advertisements.’
The privacy policy changes will mainly affect the way businesses
can communicate with customers on WhatsApp.
Best
WhatsApp Alternatives
If you’re considering deleting WhatsApp, you’ll be happy to hear
that there are several alternative apps to choose from:
1.
Telegram
With more than 400 million users, Telegram is one of the most
popular WhatsApp alternatives.
While it looks very similar to WhatsApp, what sets it apart is
the fact that it offers even more security.
Messages are end-to-end encrypted, but users also have the
option to set messages to self-destruct after a given period of time, leaving
no trace.
2.
Signal
Signal is one of the most secure messaging apps, thanks to the
fact that it is open-source.
This means that the code for the app is publicly available to
view, making it near-impossible for the app’s creators to sneak in any
backdoors that could allow governments or hackers to spy on your messages.
3.
iMessage
If you use an iPhone, you may consider simply switching to
iMessage, Apple’s own messaging app.
The app has a number of impressive features included no
character limits, the ability to send pictures and videos, and of course
Apple’s animated emoji feature, Animoji.
Unfortunately, iMessage is only available for iPhone users, so
you’ll struggle to interact with anyone using an Android.
4.
Google Messages
Google’s answer to iMessage is Google Messages, an Android-only
messaging service.
The app replaces your standard SMS app, and integrates with all
of Google’s apps and services, making it easy to share images or use Google
Assistant.
5.
Facebook Messenger
If you were put off using WhatsApp due to its sharing of data
with Facebook, Facebook Messenger may not be the best option for you.
However, the app offers a number of helpful features, including
games, secret conversations, and video calls.
Feel free to comment and tell us your suggestion, if you have any messaging
app that might help fellow readers.
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