WhatsApp is reportedly bringing in new privacy measures to make it harder for people to know their last viewed status and online presence on the platform. The update may not be available to all users yet, but it is said to be available to some people on Android and iOS.
It would help you to stay private and restrict third party apps from allowing people to stalk WhatsApp users. In addition to the privacy-focused update, WhatsApp has brought a new animated sticker pack called Encanto that is available for download through the official WhatsApp sticker store within the app.
As reported by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working to improve user privacy by restricting your last viewed and online status update from people you don’t know or have not chatted with. Some users initially noticed the update. WhatsApp support apparently also confirmed the release of the privacy enhancement.
The update will not bring any changes between you and your friends, family and companies who you know or have previously messagesed to, the support team wrote in an apparent email response to a user. Gadgets 360 has contacted WhatsApp to comment on the new measures. This report will be updated when the company responds.
A report by cybersecurity firm Traced discovered apps and services that allowed users to silently track others on WhatsApp earlier this year. The messaging app does not have a feature that allows you to disable or change your online status, although it does allow you to disable your Last Seen status from unknown people.
Traced reported that many WhatsApp online status trackers were touted as a solution to help people know when their contacts go online on the app, although cyber stalkers could simply use them to monitor others.
App stores, including Google Play, do not allow cyberbullying apps. However, there are several applications listed in these stores that claim to be a solution to help parents and partners to know the online status of their loved ones on WhatsApp.
Along with the privacy-focused feature, WhatsApp has brought the Encanto sticker pack, which is available for download on Android and iOS platforms. It includes 14 animated stickers that users can use in their chats. The package was initially discovered by WABetaInfo.
