"WhatsApp" offers multiple features to protect users' personal information "WhatsApp" provides 5 main privacy features

The WhatsApp application provides many built-in privacy features to help users safeguard their personal information and chats, by activating the right settings that

ensure peace of mind and comfort away from worry.

WhatsApp offers five main privacy features, including some advanced options, that users should enable to keep their chats secure and accounts protected:

1. Group Control

This feature allows you to choose who can add you to group chats. By default, anyone with your phone number can add you to a group, but this setting gives you more control and helps prevent spam or unwanted group additions. You can choose from three options: "Everyone," "My Contacts," or "My Contacts Except..." to exclude specific people. If someone not allowed tries to add you, they'll be prompted to send you an invitation, which you can accept or ignore. To activate: Go to Settings > Privacy > Groups and select your preferred option.

2. Chat Privacy

WhatsApp's advanced chat privacy refers to features beyond the basic settings like hiding your last seen or profile picture. It offers strong protection for specific chats and interactions. Once enabled for a chat, users are prevented from exporting it or downloading media to their device gallery. To activate: Tap on the chat name, then select Advanced Chat Privacy.

3. End-to-End Encrypted Backups

End-to-end encrypted backup protects your chat history and media stored in cloud backups (Google Drive for Android or iCloud for iPhone) using end-to-end encryption. Only the WhatsApp user can access the backup—neither WhatsApp, Google, nor Apple can read its contents. Encryption uses a unique password or a 64-digit encryption key to protect the backup from unauthorized access—even if the cloud storage is compromised. To enable: Go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-End Encrypted Backup, then select Turn On. You will be asked to set a password or use a 64-digit key.

4. View Once

This feature lets you send photos or videos that the recipient can view only once. They disappear from the chat and cannot be replayed, saved, or forwarded. It adds a layer of privacy and ensures sensitive content is shared only once. To use: Send a photo or video in a chat, then tap the "1" icon before sending.

5. Silencing Unknown Callers

This feature automatically silences incoming calls from phone numbers not saved in your contacts. These calls still appear in your call log and notifications, but your phone won't ring or vibrate. It helps reduce spam, fraud, and unwanted interruptions without fully blocking the caller. To enable: Go to Settings > Privacy > Calls, then activate Silence Unknown Callers.