Be careful, WhatsApp users! This function puts your data at risk!

Be careful, WhatsApp users! This function puts your data at risk!

The popular messaging app WhatsApp is indispensable for millions of users. But a frequently used function poses significant data protection risks. For the generated link preview, which consists of an image and headline, WhatsApp requires full access to some user data. According to reports from Mercury and Gießener Anzeiger When a link is shared, a so-called get request is sent to the target page, which inadvertently transmits data such as the IP address, the WhatsApp version and the operating system version. This happens without the user actually visiting the site.

Unwanted data sharing can be exploited by cybercriminals as it provides information about the user's general location. In order to maintain your own anonymity, we recommend deactivating the link preview in the settings under “Data protection”. This protection function is explicitly recommended for users who value their privacy. WhatsApp itself has confirmed this in its FAQ and points out that for links from other users, your own IP address is not affected, but the preview remains visible to the recipient.

Privacy concerns when sharing links

Link previews are generated by default, which is considered a convenient feature, but carries the risk that personal information may be exposed. Critics, including consumer advocates, express concerns about WhatsApp's data security. Despite the end-to-end encryption of messages, which ensures that only those communicating can view the content, the question remains as to how secure the transmitted user data is. Experts therefore recommend using this function carefully and recommend using alternative messenger services that better protect users’ privacy.