Shocking function: WhatsApp ensures that around 300,000 mobile phone numbers can be found on the network

Due to a function, WhatsApp publishes around 300,000 telephone numbers so that they can be found via search engines such as Google.

If the phone numbers set for #WhatsApps Click to Chat suddenly find themselves publicly on Google, this is not a # data protection leak on Facebook - and still potentially dangerous. #search engine #facebook #chat #mobile https://t.co/eD9iWddze9

• Apparently, a certain WhatsApp function ensures that cell phone numbers are published on the Internet.
• The numbers end up in URLs or links so that they can easily be found using a Google search.
• There is a way to protect yourself from abuse.

The "click-to-chat" function of the messenger WhatsApp apparently ensured that around 300,000 telephone numbers landed on the network. These can be found by a simple search with Google . Because of the little-known feature, they end up in a URL. 

" Click-to-Chat " ensures that users can start a chat with someone without having their phone number . The function generates a link to be clicked or a QR code to be scanned, behind which this link is located. And the mobile phone number of the WhatsApp user appears in the corresponding URL .

If the phone numbers set for #WhatsApps Click to Chat suddenly find themselves publicly on Google, this is not a # data protection leak on Facebook - and still potentially dangerous. #search engine #facebook #chat #mobile https://t.co/eD9iWddze9

WhatsApp function ensures that cell phone numbers land on the network

As Threatpost now reported, security researcher Athul Jayaram warns that WhatsApp has also approved these links for indexing on Google. This means that the mobile phone number can be found by briefly entering it in the search engine . According to the expert, this is a data protection problem. This makes it easier for spammers to get existing phone numbers . He argues that it will be easier for gamers to put together legitimate phone numbers to start campaigns. In addition, access to the profile photo and status is open to strangers, since the chat window and profile can be opened via the link.

WhatsApp "Click-to-Chat" function: This is how consumers can protect themselves

This WhatsApp * function is mainly used by companies, for example if they regularly send newsletters or the like to followers and customers and want to make it easier for them to subscribe to the newsletter. Private consumers are therefore rarely affected. If you are still worried, it is advisable to set your profile picture, status and other information in your WhatsApp profile to private.

The Messenger WhatsApp had also hit the headlines when strangers could read private messages based on a specific file. 

* Merkur.de and tz.de are part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Gerald Matzka