If you’re in a world where smartphones and tablet computers are ubiquitous, it’s highly likely that switching between your mobile device’s small screen and a full-sized desktop monitor isn’t too bad. Whatsapp Web lets you take your smartphone and turn it into a real desktop computer, with the same tools you’d use on a Mac, iPhone or PC: send messages, download files, and even be part of group chats. Real productivity wizards? That may be the case if you’re using a shared computer at work, at a library, or at home with the kids. But you may not know what it’s giving away. Here are some of the biggest security and privacy hazards you may be unfamiliar with.
The Peril of Remaining Logged-In
The most obvious and common danger of accessing WhatsApp Web on a shared computer is that you can keep yourself logged in after you’ve left it. In the case of a web site that automatically logs you out once your session ends, most websites won’t do so they simply don’t stop connecting to your phone. If you leave the computer unlocked, the next person to use it has full and undivided access to your entire account on WhatsApp. They can read your personal and group conversations, see every photo and video shared by you, and send you messages (if you signed in successfully) that mimic your own messages.
The Threat of Malicious Software
Public/shared computers are by definition more prone to malware, spyware, and keyloggers than your personal ones. You cannot easily detect what software has been installed on previous users, or if the machine has been hacked. A keylogger merely records every keystroke you make, so it can watch as you type your private messages as you type them. More sophisticated malware could hijack your WhatsApp Web session, intercepting messages as you type them, or collecting sensitive files you share through the platform. On an infected machine, even one session exposes an enormous amount of personal data.
Browser History and Cache Exposure
Whenever you access WhatsApp Web, every action you make will leave a mark in the browser’s cache. While the conversations may not be sent directly to the recipient, your actions there are preserved as HTML document files. The browser’s cache stores images, videos, and other data that can be used to help speed up a browser’s load time for subsequent requests. So any photos or documents that you went through during the session could be seen by a tech-savvy user of that browser looking through the browser’s caching files. Plus, unless you manually remove it, the browser history will tell the user that You went to Whatsapp Web so that other users with the same machine may ask where you went.
The Illusion of “Remember Me”
At the moment that you first scan the QR code and connect to the service, WhatsApp Web will give you a checkbox to “Keep me signed in. ” Not only is this convenient when you are using it on your personal computer but you should never do it on a work or school computer. This feature ties the session to the browser itself, not just to the current window. Even if you close the browser tab, your account is still connected. The person who opens the browser window and visits web. whatsapp. com will get taken directly into your account without having to scan a new code, totally bypassing the little security of the log-out button.
How to Protect Yourself: Best Practices
Luckily, it has no downsides. A simple rule of thumb is to log out, from any computer you might have, whenever you’re finished working. You don’t just close the browser tab. From the Messenger Web interface, click on the three-dot menu and select “Log out. ” That’s really it. This instantly disconnects the connection between the computer and the phone. You might want to add another layer of security: You can manage your linked devices from your phone too. Go to your mobile WhatsApp account and choose “Linked devices. ” Here you can look at a list of computers that you use or don’t recognize. Click on the link to turn that off.
Is It Ever Safe?
The only case where using WhatsApp Web on a shared computer would be reasonably safe is when you have some kind of assurance that you’ll remember to log out and your computer’s security. But “relatively safe” would be the opposite of “secure”. If you’re in a situation where you’re communicating with or on behalf of sensitive personal, financial or work information, you’re more likely to err on the side of caution. Use your own mobile phone for such communications. The “personal inconvenience” of typing on a smaller screen (in comparison with the “end-to-end encryption” of the device and end-to-end security on the phone) is all more than worth it.
Conclusion
WhatsApp Web has a lot going for it—fun, convenience, compatibility. But when that excitement dissipates, the fun is gone. A shared computer is a place where people are social, and treating it like an extension of your phone or tablet is a fool’s game. You risk being lost, infected, and having data still on the hard drive. Unless you’re an idiot, read this: – How WhatsApp Web keeps a connection between your phone and your computer – How to stick to very strict logout habits So when you get home and realize you’ve been logged into WhatsApp Web in an unwanted fashion, there won’t be any time to panic about having lost your privacy—if not, by logging out fast.
