WhatsApp has become an essential communication tool for billions of users worldwide. From personal chats to professional conversations, the platform stores a significant amount of sensitive information. As its user base grows, so do the risks of fraud, account takeovers, and privacy violations. Cybercriminals often target WhatsApp accounts through phishing links, fake verification calls, or unauthorised access attempts.

To help users stay protected, WhatsApp offers several built-in privacy and security features. By using them correctly, you can significantly reduce the chances of misuse or data theft. Below are five practical and effective steps every user should follow to keep their WhatsApp account secure.

1. Protect Personal Conversations Using Chat Lock

Some conversations are meant to stay private, even from people who may occasionally access your phone. WhatsApp allows users to lock individual chats with a password or biometric security. Once locked, these chats are moved to a separate “Locked Chats” folder and disappear from the main chat list.

On Android and iOS devices, users can swipe or long-press on a chat and enable the lock option from the menu. On WhatsApp Web or the Windows app, chats can be locked by right-clicking on them. Locked chats automatically close when the device is locked, and the other person is not notified when a chat is secured.

Users also have the option to create a secret code to further hide locked chats, adding an extra layer of privacy.

2. Decide Who Can View Your Profile Photo

Your profile picture is often visible in notifications when you send messages, which can unintentionally reveal your identity to people you barely know. WhatsApp allows full control over who can see your profile photo.

Users can restrict visibility to everyone, only saved contacts, selected contacts, or no one at all. This setting can be adjusted easily from the privacy section of WhatsApp settings on both Android and iOS devices. Limiting profile photo visibility helps reduce the chances of impersonation and unwanted attention.

3. Enable Biometric or Password Protection for the App

To prevent unauthorised access, WhatsApp offers an optional app lock feature. Once enabled, the app can only be opened using biometric authentication or a password.

On Android devices, users can choose fingerprint or face recognition, while iPhone users can enable Face ID or Touch ID. On desktop versions, a password can be set. Even when the app is locked, users can still reply to messages from notifications or answer incoming calls.

This feature is especially useful if your phone is lost, borrowed, or accessed by someone else.

4. Share Sensitive Media More Carefully With ‘View Once’

WhatsApp includes a privacy-focused feature called “View Once” that allows users to send photos, videos, or voice messages that disappear after being opened one time.

Media sent using this option is not saved to the recipient’s gallery, and screenshots or screen recordings are blocked. This is particularly useful when sharing personal documents, confidential images, or sensitive voice messages that should not remain stored on another device.

Using this feature reduces the risk of media misuse or unintended sharing.

5. Control Who Can See Your Status Updates

WhatsApp Status updates are visible to contacts by default, but users can customise their audience. You can choose specific people who can see your status or exclude certain contacts entirely.

Additionally, users can mention individuals or groups in a status update, allowing targeted visibility. However, it is important to note that mentioned users may reshare the status with their own audience.

Managing status privacy ensures that personal updates are only visible to the intended audience and not shared beyond your comfort level.

Final Takeaway

Online safety starts with awareness. By using WhatsApp’s privacy and security tools effectively, users can protect their conversations, media, and personal information from unauthorised access. Regularly reviewing privacy settings and staying alert to suspicious activity can go a long way in keeping your account safe.