WhatsApp - Afrikan Heroes

WhatsApp May Soon Let Users Hide Their ‘Last Seen’ Status

September 9, 2021

WhatsApp is working on updating its privacy policy settings with the introduction of a feature that will allow users to disable their Last Seen status, as well as their profile pictures and About message for specific contacts that they can set. The feature will apparently launch in both iOS and Android devices.

Currently, profile information like the above is visible depending on the prospective user’s preferences – either visible to anyone, visible only to their contacts, or visible to no one.

With the planned future update to privacy, users will be able to hide particular profile information from specific contacts they can see with the “My Contacts Except…” option.

WhatsApp is working on updating its privacy policy settings with the introduction of a feature that will allow users to disable their Last Seen status for specific contacts that they can set.

According to images released by WABetaInfo, who also first reported on the planned update, users will be able to use the “My Contacts Except…” option to hide their personal info similar to how the option can currently be used to block unknown group invites or to hide status updates from certain contacts.

The system is apparently also reciprocal – meaning that when you block contacts from seeing your information, WhatsApp will also hide their information from you.

These new updates to privacy on the ubiquitous chat app come right on the heels of the Facebook-owned company being fined a record $266-million by an Irish data protection regulator for allegedly failing to uphold EU data rules around transparency in 2018.

Ireland’s Data Privacy Commissioner (DPC), the lead privacy regulator for Facebook and its companies within the European Union, said the fine was based around WhatsApp’s transparency to its data subjects.

WhatsApp called the fine “entirely disproportionate” and said that it would appeal.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

WhatsApp Plans App for iPad and Android Tablets

August 24, 2021

WhatsApp is planning to launch fully native tablet-supporting apps for the first time, as the chat platform continues to expand its encryption features for true multi-device connection without the requirement of a smartphone. According to 9To5Mac, Mark Zuckerberg hinted in June that the app was coming to Apple’s tablet. The hint proved to be true.

Now, as part of this upcoming multi-device beta, both iPad and Android tablets would be able to be used as “linked devices” to a WhatsApp account for the first time.

• Is WhatsApp For IPad A Web App? No, It’s A Native App!

• Will WhatsApp For IPad Work Independently? Yes.

• Is WhatsApp For IPad Already Available? No.

• WhatsApp Beta For IPad? If You Have WhatsApp Beta For IOS, You Will Automatically Have The IPad Version In The Future. Https://T.Co/AQYBBtW7Sb

— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) August 21, 2021

According to WABetaInfo, the apps will be native (rather than web apps) and will work “independently,” which means that the app will run even if your smartphone is offline.

As of yet, there is no word on when this app and its integration will arrive. The app is currently in development and will be released in a “future update.” Users that already have the WhatsApp for iOS beta will get access to the iPad version as well.

“Multi-device means that users will have the same functionality that is available on the current public versions of WhatsApp Web, Desktop and Portal, just without the need to have your phone connected. Our multi-device capability immediately makes the experience better for people who use Desktop/Web and Portal. And it also will make it possible to add support for more kinds of devices over time,“ says a WhatsApp spokesperson in a media interview.

The multi-device functionality might also be a key hint that other Facebook-owned apps like Instagram could be getting tablet launches.

Facebook is currently readying itself for the launch of multi-device support for the app, which will see users keeping a single WhatsApp account across up to four devices and one smartphone.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Why Africans Are Hooked on WhatsApp Inspite of Concerns of Cybercrime and Privacy Issues

March 28, 2021

Inspite of the growing concerns over rising Cybercrime theft and privacy issues which has seen over 50 million users dump social networking app WhatsApp, users in Africa seem most reluctant to dump the App.

This emerged in new research carried out by KnowBe4 among smartphone users in Nigeria, Mauritius, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco and Botswana.

The KnowBe4 Mobile Users in Africa survey gauged the opinions of Africa’s mobile users on the recent decision by WhatsApp to update their terms and conditions, sharing metadata with the rest of the Facebook group of companies. The survey found that not only did the majority of the respondents across Africa intend to continue using WhatsApp; but also, that their favourite alternative to WhatsApp was Facebook Messenger.

Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist Africa at KnowBe4, says the recent WhatsApp privacy policy has spurred public discussions which resulted in more consumer awareness about their privacy rights as well as brought more visibility to alternative tools such as Signal, Telegram, and others.

Collard says: “It is interesting to see that while most mobile users are concerned about their online privacy, Facebook Messenger, which was listed as the top alternative chat app, collects much more data than WhatsApp. This indicates that there may be a lack of understanding about the actual risks and implications of the new policy.”

The imminent WhatsApp privacy policy change revealed some shifts, however, with 24% of respondents saying they were no longer allowed to use WhatsApp for work and 62% saying they were ‘somewhat concerned’ or ‘very concerned’ about the new privacy policy. Around 7.7% of respondents said they had – or planned to – cancel their WhatsApp accounts, with this number rising to 15% among South Africans respondents.

However, for most, the convenience of the platform outweighed concerns about privacy risks; with over half saying they had concerns but would continue using WhatsApp, even though they may have signed up to use other messaging tools. Just over a quarter of respondents had heard about the planned privacy terms changes but did not understand what the risks were.

For those also using alternative messaging tools, Facebook Messenger was the most popular, with over 80% electing to use this platform too. Over 56% also used Telegram, over 12% also used Signal, and 10% or less used Discord, Threema or other messaging platforms.

Collard says: “What’s interesting is that, compared with the 2019 KnowBe4 African Report, respondents were even more concerned about cybercrime. In 2019, 37.86% were worried, and in 2020, the number had risen by 10% to 47.61%. Across all eight countries, we see a growing awareness of the risks that come with cybercrime.

However, she notes, there remains limited awareness of how to avoid risk, and the implications of data privacy terms and conditions. “This indicates a need for further education and awareness initiatives to enlighten the public about risks on social media and messaging platforms,” Collard says.

Education and awareness remain key to protecting mobile users from risks such as identity theft, as well as to prevent potential breaches of sensitive corporate information via messaging platforms, says Collard.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Why WhatsApp Introduced Voice and Video Calling for its Desktop App

March 7, 2021

To stem the exodus it witnessed in recent times, leading global messaging app WhatsApp has announced that private and secure one-to-one voice and video calls are now available as its desktop app. The calls are end-to-end encrypted which means that WhatsApp can’t hear or see them, whether you call from your phone or your computer.

“With so many people still apart from their loved ones, and adjusting to new ways of working, we want conversations on WhatsApp to feel as close to in-person as possible, regardless of where you are in the world or the tech you’re using,” says the messaging platform.

“We’re starting with one-to-one calls on the WhatsApp desktop app so we make sure we can give you a reliable and high-quality experience.”

To make desktop calling more useful, WhatsApp has made sure it works seamlessly for both portrait and landscape orientation, appears in a resizable standalone window on your computer screen, and is set to be always on top so you never lose your video chats in a browser tab or stack of open windows. This feature is expected to include group voice and video calls in the future.

In a similar development, WhatsApp has unveiled a new progress animation to show iOS users exactly when a voice note ends. According to WABetaInfo, the UI animation update is available on iOS 13 and newer versions. And in this update, if Read Receipts are disabled (WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy) the recipient won’t be notified when voice messages are played.

“We don’t know if WhatsApp will restore the old behaviour in the next updates (because they didn’t implement this change in the Android version yet), but at the moment the situation is so.”

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

WhatsApp Clears the Air on Its Privacy Policy Update

February 26, 2021

WhatsApp has offered to clear up ‘any confusion’ for its controversial privacy policy. The social platform has revealed users want more information; like whether or not WhatsApp and Facebook can read or listen to personal conversations, keep logs of who everyone is messaging or share contact lists with Facebook.

“We’re going to include more information that people can read within WhatsApp and give people more time to review the terms and privacy policy at their own pace,” reads a statement from the company.

Starting in a few weeks, some users will see a small banner that will invite them to check out these policies again. Tapping on “review” will bring up a deeper summary. Users who click on ‘more information here’ at the bottom of the second screen will be taken to a new landing page on the WhatsApp website with more information about the update.

“As you can see, we’re making clear that this update does not change the privacy of people’s personal conversations. This is about optional business features that are a part of our broader efforts to make communicating with a business secure, better and easier for everyone. Connecting with a business is entirely optional.

Over 175 million people everyday message a WhatsApp Business account and more are expected to do this in the future.

“We’re building a business that puts people in control – what people choose to send a business is up to them, not us.”

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

How to Move Chats from WhatsApp to Telegram

January 30, 2021

With the mass dumping of WhatApp by millions of subscribers, rival platforms such as Telegram and Signal are coming up with ways to make migration as seamless as possible, moreso, they are upgrading their functionalities to appeal to more subscribers. The founder of Telegrams said earlier last week that WhatsApp is behind the “Largest Digital Migration in History”. According to the Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, Facebook’s recent attempt to update WhatsApp’s privacy policy has left many users concerned and searching for a more ‘secure’ messaging platform, like Telegram. Telegram has launched a new feature that allows users to import their WhatsApp individual and group chat history – including videos and documents – to Telegram.

Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, — Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov

For subscribers using the Apple iOS platforms, to move a chat from WhatsApp on iOS, open the Contact Info or Group Info page in WhatsApp, tap Export Chat, then choose Telegram in the Share menu. WhatsApp for iOS also lets you export chats directly from the chat list. Swipe left on a chat, then choose ‘…’ > Export Chat.

For those using Android platforms, what needs be done is to open a WhatsApp chat, tap ⋮ > More > Export Chat, then choose Telegram in the Share menu. Messages will be imported into the current day but will also include their original timestamps. In a recent statement, Durov revealed that a number of political leaders and numerous public organizations rely on Telegram to combat misinformation and spread awareness about important issues in their societies.

He goes on to say that “unlike other networks, Telegram doesn’t use nontransparent algorithms to decide whether a subscriber will see content they subscribed to or not. As a result, Telegram channels are the only direct way for opinion leaders to reliably connect with their audiences.” “By removing the manipulative algorithms that have become synonymous with 2010s technology platforms, Telegram channels restore transparency and integrity to public “one-to-many” communication.”

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

How Facebook’s Faux-pas With WhatsApp Shot Telegram to Over 500 Million User Milestone

January 18, 2021

…how to make your Telegram secure

While Facebook has been on overdrive trying to calm frayed nerves over the mass exodus from its messaging app WhatsApp to over competing apps, one major competitor that has gained from that exodus is Telegram. The rise in demand for other messaging apps is attributed to Facebook’s recent move to update WhatsApp’s terms of service and privacy policy – leaving many WhatsApp users concerned and searching for a more secure messaging platform, like Telegram.

Telegram which has been in existence since 2013 which also provides end-to-end encrypted video calling, VoIP, file sharing and several other features has been overshadowed by the popularity of WhatsApp for years until now. Though Telegram provides end-to-end encrypted calls and optional end-to-end encrypted “secret” chats between two online users on smartphone clients, its cloud chats use client-server/server-client encryption and it was the 8th most downloaded app worldwide in 2020.

However, due to the mass exodus that hit WhatsApp, 25 million people downloaded Telegram last week alone with 38% of them from Asia, 27% from Europe, 21% from Latin America, and 8% from MENA,” says Telegram Founder, Pavel Durov.

“People no longer want to exchange their privacy for free services. They no longer want to be held hostage by tech monopolies that seem to think they can get away with anything as long as their apps have a critical mass of users.”

For those who migrated to Telegrams, here are tips to make sure Telegram is as secure as possible:

Pick a username and use it instead of your actual name or associated phone number when chatting with others.

Enable 2FA for your account. If someone tries to take control over your account, hijacking a voice call or a text message with a temporary verification code won’t be enough. The attacker will still have to deal with your password. If it’s strong and unique, the account takeover will become a significant problem. This feature is available in “Settings” – “Privacy and Security” – “Two-step Verification.”

When chatting with others, consider using the “Secret Chats” feature. It means your account and chats will have better encryption, where each message is encrypted with two keys available only for you and your recipient.

Use a VPN connection when chatting or calling others. It is essential to bring an extra layer of security on your side.

Regularly review the “Active Sessions” option available in “Settings” – “Privacy and Security”. It helps to find out if your Telegram account is enabled on any other device besides yours. If you find anything unknown or suspicious, terminate those sessions and change your “Two-step verification” password.

To maximise your privacy integrity, when signing up on Telegram, use a virtual number instead of your real mobile number. Make sure it is not a disposable virtual number; otherwise, someone can still hijack your account. Your virtual number is the one you own and is not connected to your mobile carrier.

Make sure your information is private to the point comfortable to you. There are several settings that you can play up or down in terms of exposure to the world around by accessing “Settings” and then “Privacy and Security”.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry