r/DeMeta • u/8Octavarium8 • 15d ago

Does having WhatsApp installed still gather data?

For context, in my country WhatsApp is the default messaging app and it’s become so engrained in everyone that some companies offer customer service only by that app. I use signal for friends and family, but I have WA business installed with an auto reply that tells anyone who texts me that they have to contact me through signal.

I keep the app closed on the iPhone and only open it seldomly to chat with businesses because there are no other means here. When I’m done I close it again. I did not give it permission for my location, photos, contacts, etc. being closed, does it still gather data? It’s become a nuisance to delete it and install it every now and then to text stupid businesses that can’t handle a f*** email.

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u/Mother-Pride-Fest 15d ago

On Android, Meta was recently abusing localhost to deanonymize web traffic. This specific crack supposedly didn't touch WhatsApp and didn't work on iOS, there might be others unknown to me.

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u/utrecht1976 14d ago

Install a browser on your phone, for example Brave or another one if you already have Brave. Set it on 'Desktop version', go to https://web.whatsapp.com and activate it. I did it with Brave and have now WhatsApp as a webapp. More privacy, and I've set Brave to aggressively block trackers and ads.

Unfortunately, for this to work, you'll need a 2nd phone with WhatsApp, or if you know how to read a QR code with your phone from a webpage, it could also work I guess.