WhatsApp: data not safe even after deletion? Facebook speaks out

WhatsApp has data protection problems again. Even after uninstalling the app, your own data on your phone doesn't seem to be secure.

• WhatsApp * can also access data after deinstallation
• Access to data is often allowed
• What are the alternatives to WhatsApp ?

With more than two billion users, WhatsApp is the most used messenger service worldwide. The app, which has been part of Facebook since 2014, is also clearly in first place among Germans.

However, since the takeover by Facebook was a thorn in the side of many users, many people preferred to opt for alternatives such as the messenger services Signal or Telegram for fear of their personal data .

WhatsApp: Fears about data on cell phones are justified, especially on Facebook

As "Business Insider" now reports, WhatsApp, which belongs to Facebook , not only diligently collects data from active users, but even from people who have already deleted the app from their cell phone and no longer have an account.

How it works? As soon as your own phone number is saved in another contact in the phone book, WhatsApp can access a lot of data such as cell phone number, birthday or name. Of course, it depends on whether the said contact was saved not only with name, but also with additional information such as birthday or address.

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WhatsApp: Access to data from mobile phones allowed by most users

When installing the messenger service, you are asked whether you want to allow access to the smartphone's phone book. Since almost everyone does this, the app can easily access all the stored data on the phone .

Of course, WhatsApp could also be denied access to the phone book, but in future the contacts in Messenger will only be displayed without a name.

WhatsApp: Users could be liable for the transfer of data

Anyone who automatically forwards the phone numbers and other data of their contacts to the company via WhatsApp without first notifying those affected and asking for permission could be held liable for this.

At least that was decided by the Bad Hersfeld district court. In the case that was before a family judge in 2017, it was decided that the mother of an 11-year-old child is responsible for always obtaining written consent from all of her son's saved contacts.

However, the decision does not appear to have a generally binding effect. Even though there was a fear of a real “warning wave” of all users of WhatsApp, which belongs to Facebook , nothing of the sort followed, especially since the decision of the Bad Hersfeld District Court is an isolated case.

WhatsApp: This is how you could protect your data on Facebook

Who uses WhatsApp leaves the "data octopus" Facebook a lot of his information. This is now all too well known and cannot be prevented by a simple setting. If you really want to protect your data, the only recommendation is to delete the app and deactivate the account.

However, the problem remains that WhatsApp can access third-party data at WhatsApp via other contacts. In order to prevent this, you would have to point out to your own contacts that they should delete all information about you stored in the phone book as soon as you have uninstalled the messenger service yourself.

WhatsApp: These are the alternatives

For the first time, WhatsApp is the focus of data protection issues. If the app becomes too insecure after all, you could switch to Signal, Telegram or Threema *, on which your own data is more secure.

Once you turn your back on the market leader, you quickly come across the Signal app when looking for other options. The messenger has so-called end-to-end encryption and is even recommended by Edward Snowden, since signal is considered to be relatively secure against eavesdropping. In addition, the app is free.

The same data protection is also written by Threema . The app from Switzerland can also score with end-to-end encryption and doesn't even need a phone number to use it. Cost: 3.99 euros.

The messenger service Telegram has also set itself the task of becoming a real competitor of WhatsApp. The free app has been relying on serious data protection and encrypted communication for some time.

By Nail Akkoyun

* hna.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.