WhatsApp users in South Africa have been reminded to protect their personal data and avoid being banned from the app.
But what could cause the personal data of WhatsApp users to be compromised and them being banned on the app? Well, in this case, the use of unofficial WhatsApp apps.
Using unofficial WhatsApp apps poses serious risks for users, reported MyBroadband on 18 February 2025. Here’s all you need to know.
WHATSAPP USERS SHOULD BEWARE OF UNOFFICIAL APPS
According to MyBroadband, opting for unofficial WhatsApp apps includes risks such as compromising your personal information and your device getting infected with malware. Also, WhatsApp users could be banned by Meta, the developer of the official WhatsApp app.
The report cited two known unofficial WhatsApp apps; namely, GBWhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus. Of the two, GBWhatsApp has grown in popularity, reportedly having millions of users.
WHAT WHATSAPP USERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GBWHATSAPP?
Despite GBWhatsApp’s popularity, the app is banned. It is a mod version of the original WhatsApp app, which is why it’s not available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, it can only be downloaded on the web. Another reason why it is not safe for WhatsApp users.
OCNJ Daily reports that GBWhatsApp is banned for numerous reasons. These include:
- Its violation of the original WhatsApp app terms and conditions
- Posing privacy and security risks, which could lead to data breaches and malware
- It does not have end-to-end encryption, which means there’s no privacy and your messages can be accessed easily
- Its features are in violation of the official WhatsApp app’s standard policies
FEATURES THAT MAKE GBWHATSAPP EVEN MORE UNSAFE
One of the main things that makes this unofficial app preferred by so many is its vast features, which put WhatsApp users at risk. The features are the following:
- Not showing your online status to your contacts
- Retrieving other users’ deleted statuses
- Blocking WhatsApp calls from some or all users
- Automated message replies or message scheduling
- Being able to view deleted messages
- Being able to disable read receipts for messages that were received or sent
- Retrieving deleted media that was sent to you
- Sending up to 90 messages and increasing media sharing size limit
- Being able to use multiple accounts on a single app
GBWhatsApp also has permissions on your phone to create and send SMSs and use payment systems. It’s also permitted to download from unknown sources on the internet, control your device remotely and access your login credentials.
ARE YOU USING THE OFFICIAL WHATSAPP APP?
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