Is WhatsApp Safe?

While WhatsApp offers solid security, no messaging app is completely risk-free. Its default end-to-end encryption ensures only you and your recipient can read your messages, but it isn’t the most privacy-focused app, and several risks remain.

Accounts can be compromised through SIM swap fraud, malware, or social engineering. If a hacker gets in, they can view your chats and impersonate you to scam your contacts. And phishing attempts remain common, sometimes leading to financial loss or account takeover.

WhatsApp transformed SMS when it burst onto the scene in 2009, and it remains a secure option today — but its reputation changed after Facebook (now Meta) acquired it in 2015. Since then, privacy concerns have grown around metadata collection and how personal information could be used to train AI systems.

Below, you’ll learn WhatsApp’s security strengths and weaknesses so you can stay safe while sending messages online.

How secure is WhatsApp? WhatsApp’s security features

WhatsApp claims to take security very seriously, and this is backed up by the inclusion of strong built-in protections, including end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and granular privacy settings — all of which are updated regularly to counter new threats.

Let’s break down WhatsApp’s main security features.

End-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption (E2E) is WhatsApp’s foundation. It ensures only you and your recipient can read your messages — not WhatsApp, not governments, and not network snoops. Messages are transformed into unreadable code during transit and decrypted only on the recipient’s device.

Think of it like sending every message in its own locked safe, each with a unique combination that only the recipient knows. To achieve this, WhatsApp uses the industry-leading Signal Protocol to secure all communication, including text messages, voice and video calls, and shared media.

Privacy settings and controls

WhatsApp provides you with tools to control who sees your messages, profile info, photos, and more. Here are some of the privacy settings you can toggle on WhatsApp:

1. Last seen: Choose who can see when you were last online.

2. Read receipts: Disable read receipts (the blue checkmarks), so recipients don’t know if you’ve seen their messages or not.

3. Who can add you to groups: Control who can add you to group chats.

4. Live location sharing: Enable or disable live location sharing for all or individual chats.

5. Disappearing messages: Set your messages to vanish after a period of time (24 hours, 7 days, or 90 days).

6. View once: Set your media to disappear after it’s been viewed.

7. Advanced privacy controls: These controls let you prohibit other users from exporting your chat history and downloading sent media.

8. Unknown account messages: Block messages from unknown accounts if they exceed a certain volume. This may help limit spam and large-scale phishing campaigns.

Two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication is a more secure way to log into your WhatsApp account. Unlike traditional logins that only require one form of verification (typically a password), 2FA requires two forms of verification. These might include a password as well as a biometric key (like Touch ID or Face ID), a code sent to your phone, or an authenticator key.

2FA is much more secure than single-factor authentication because hackers would need to breach two layers of security to enter your account. It’s estimated that 2FA can block around 99.9% of attacks.

What are the dangers of using WhatsApp?

There is no such thing as a 100% secure messaging app. While WhatsApp is very safe, certain vulnerabilities and privacy concerns remain that users should be aware of.

Metadata collection and privacy concerns

Neither WhatsApp or or anyone other than the recipient can read your messages, but WhatsApp does collect metadata — details about how you use the app.

According to WhatsApp’s privacy policy, Meta may gather information about:

1. Your profile.

2. Your contacts.

3. When you use the app.

4. How long you use the app.

5. Who you chat with (your contacts).

6. The type of device you’re using.

7. Your location.

This metadata can be combined with Facebook and Instagram data to build a detailed profile for advertising — or shared with authorities when legally required. This may not seem like such a big deal, but, as the Freedom of the Press Foundation notes, metadata can reveal surprisingly sensitive information about your behavior.

Vulnerabilities to malware and spyware

Encryption protects messages in transit, not your device. If your phone is infected with malware or spyware, attackers can read messages before they’re encrypted or after they arrive.

WhatsApp is also a common delivery channel for malicious links and attachments. In late 2025, The CISA issued a warning of global malware campaigns delivered through fake WhatsApp messages.

Hackers can also use spyware to get your login details and take over your WhatsApp account. Once they log in, they can lock you out and start spreading malware or scam messages to your contacts. That’s why regular malware scans are essential on any device you rely on for secure messaging.

Risks of phishing and hacking attempts

Phishing schemes designed to trick you into giving up personal information often mimic WhatsApp or Meta support, urging you to “verify your account” or click a malicious link. Once your credentials are stolen, hackers can take over your account.

WhatsApp accounts are also vulnerable to SIM swap scams, where criminals hijack your phone number. Once they control your number, they can receive authentication codes and potentially access WhatsApp. That’s why you should never share WhatsApp verification codes or your SIM PIN with anyone.

Scamming attacks

Scams are common on WhatsApp because a scammer only needs your phone number to reach you. In 2025 alone, WhatsApp removed more than 8 million scam accounts.

These scams take many forms: fake charity appeals, sweepstakes promotions, investment offers, cryptocurrency group invitations, or messages from someone posing as a friend whose account was supposedly hacked. The throughline is the same — a push for money or personal information. Once scammers get what they want, they vanish.

Recently, a couple lost over $800,000 in a WhatsApp crypto scam — a drop in the bucket compared to the $16+ billion U.S. residents have collectively lost to online scams.

Most WhatsApp scams rely on urgency, fear, or an enticing offer to pressure you into acting before you think. A scammer might impersonate a family member in trouble or dangle an unbelievable opportunity that “expires soon.”

To protect yourself, treat messages from unfamiliar numbers with caution — be skeptical of urgent, out-of-character requests from people you know, and never click links or download attachments from unknown contacts on WhatsApp.

How to use WhatsApp safely

WhatsApp’s built-in safety features provide a high level of security, but human error and emerging threats can put you at risk while using the app. To stay safe on WhatsApp, stay up to date on the latest scams and help safeguard your devices with robust, free cybersecurity protection from Avast.

Adjust your privacy settings

WhatsApp’s default privacy settings may not be as strict as you’d like. To stay safe, review your privacy settings and update them to prevent anyone from snooping on your account.

1. Start by opening the app and going to Settings. Select Privacy to adjust your privacy settings.

   

2. If it’s an option, start by clicking Privacy checkup. This step-by-step process simplifies adjusting your privacy settings.

   

Otherwise, you can change your settings by selecting privacy options from the menu individually.

Here are a few recommended actions to improve your security from the privacy menu.

• Under Last seen & online, set it to Nobody. This prevents anyone from tracking your device use and online status.

• Under My profile photo, set it to My contacts. This prevents unknown users from seeing your photo.

• Under About, set it to My contacts. This way, only your friends can see your info.

• Under Status, set it to Only share with. This limits who can see the messages and images in your status updates.

• Turn Read receipts off if you don’t want others to know when you’ve received their messages.

• Under App lock, turn on Require Face/Touch ID. This will require biometric authentication every time you open WhatsApp.

• Under Advanced, turn on Block unknown account messages. This will help protect you from spammers and scammers.

• In Settings > Chats > Chat backup >End-to-End encrypted backup set a password or passkey to ensure your chat backups are end-to-end encrypted.

Remember, tightening your WhatsApp security won’t stop Meta from gathering metadata or protect you from malware on your device. However, it can help you avoid scammers and keep your messaging activity more confidential.

Don’t share sensitive information

Never share personal information with anyone on WhatsApp. Anyone asking for sensitive details — passwords, verification codes, addresses, or other private data — is almost certainly a scammer. Meta and WhatsApp will never request this information from you.

It may sound obvious, but it’s easy to get caught off guard. A common tactic is a warning that your WhatsApp account will be permanently locked unless you provide your login details within minutes. That sense of urgency is designed to make you panic and hand over information before you think it through.

Protect yourself by adopting one simple rule: never disclose sensitive information on WhatsApp, under any circumstances.

Enable two-step verification

Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security to your account. When it’s turned on, you’ll need to input a PIN code whenever you open the app.

Here’s how to enable two-step verification:

1. Go to Settings, then tap Account.

   

2. Select Two-step verification, tap Turn on, and create your own PIN.

   

Recognize and avoid scams

The best way to protect yourself from scammers is to learn their tricks. When you recognize a scam, you can report it and avoid it.

Here are a few tell-tale signs of WhatsApp scams:

• Messages requesting urgent action (sending money or personal information).

• Too-good-to-be-true offers.

• Anything cryptocurrency-related.

• Requests for money.

• Requests for sensitive information.

• Unsolicited links or files.

• Messages from unknown users.

• Unexpectedly getting added to large WhatsApp groups.

WhatsApp has built-in security tools that help detect scams before they reach your inbox, but scammers are getting smarter. Instead of trying to scam you immediately, they may attempt to build a relationship with you first. That way, WhatsApp believes they are a legitimate contact.

Some scammers execute pretexting scams, where they invent a complex backstory to persuade you to trust them. Others develop online romantic relationships with their victims and exploit them in the long term.

It’s important to stay vigilant against WhatsApp scams from all of your contacts — not just unknown users. Trusted online friends can end up being scammers, and trustworthy people can fall victim to account hacks and impersonation.

Comparing WhatsApp to other messaging apps

WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging app, and some consider it to be the best app for user-friendliness. However, there are other apps with stronger security and privacy features.

So, how does WhatsApp compare to other top messaging apps? We put it head-to-head with Signal, Telegram, and Discord to find out.

WhatsApp vs. Signal

Signal is a non-profit messaging app often regarded as the strongest option for privacy and security. Like WhatsApp, it uses the Signal Protocol — one of the most trusted encryption standards.

But unlike WhatsApp, Signal collects very limited metadata. It stores only two pieces of information: the date an account was created and the last time it was used. Because so little metadata is logged, it’s extremely difficult to determine who is sending or receiving messages to whom on Signal.

While Signal offers stronger privacy than WhatsApp, Signal scams are still a risk. And compared with WhatsApp, Signal offers fewer features, which may limit convenience for some users.

WhatsApp vs. Telegram

Like Signal, Telegram positions itself as a privacy-first app. According to its privacy policy, Telegram logs users’ IP addresses, devices, and usernames, and retains this information for 12 months — less metadata than WhatsApp but more than Signal.

A critical distinction is encryption. Telegram’s default chats are not end-to-end encrypted. And messages are stored in the cloud, which allows for convenient syncing across devices but offers less security than WhatsApp’s watertight end-to-end encryption.

Telegram does offer “secret chats,” which are end-to-end encrypted, but you need to start a new secret chat each time you want a protected conversation with a new contact. Telegram’s privacy policy also states that it can access messages stored on its servers and may review those flagged as spam. In contrast, WhatsApp and Meta cannot read user messages because they are encrypted by default.

Telegram is feature-rich and often more flexible than WhatsApp, but it falls short on privacy. And like WhatsApp, Telegram faces ongoing challenges with scams, spam, and phishing attempts.

WhatsApp vs. Discord

Discord is a messaging platform built for large online communities, while WhatsApp is designed for one-on-one conversations and small group chats. Because of these different use cases, their security and privacy approaches diverge sharply.

WhatsApp emphasizes security with end-to-end encrypted messaging. Discord, by contrast, was never built for private communication and does not offer end-to-end encryption. That design choice aligns with its purpose — when you’re talking to an entire community, privacy isn’t usually the priority.

Discord also collects extensive metadata, including your phone number, birthdate, age, location, friend lists, and more. It stores all messages and content you share on the platform. This data supports targeted advertising and helps Discord promote its services.

If your goal is to participate in a large, vibrant online community, Discord is a reliable and well-established platform. But for secure communication with one person or a small group, WhatsApp is the safer choice.

Enhance your WhatsApp security with Avast

Although WhatsApp is generally secure, it isn’t immune to scams, malware, and privacy concerns tied to Meta’s data practices. Staying safe means understanding scammers’ tactics, tightening your privacy settings, and using reliable security software.

Avast Free Antivirus adds that extra layer of protection. It helps block malware, detect phishing attempts, and even gives you round-the-clock access to the AI-powered Avast Assistant to check suspicious messages so you can spot WhatsApp scammers before they trick you. Take control of your online safety today with Avast.

FAQs

Is WhatsApp safe for sending private photos?

Yes, WhatsApp is safe for sending private photos. Photos are end-to-end encrypted, so only you and the recipient can view the photos you send. For added security, turn on the “View once” setting in the Privacy menu. This setting ensures your photos disappear after they’ve been opened.

Is WhatsApp safe from hackers?

Viruses are often hard to detect. If you want to stay safe on WhatsApp, use a tool like Avast Free Antivirus to regularly scan for malware and spyware. Avast will also help inform you of suspicious messages that you may receive from hackers.

Because malware can be difficult to spot, if you want to stay safe on WhatsApp, consider using a trusted antivirus tool such as Avast Free Antivirus to scan for malware and spyware and help identify suspicious messages or files.

What are the dangers of WhatsApp?

The potential dangers of WhatsApp include privacy issues, as well as phishing and other social engineering scams designed to steal money or sensitive information. Scammers may also attempt SIM-swap attacks to hijack your account or use romance scams to exploit vulnerable users. And hackers often try to spread viruses or other forms of malware through malicious links or attachments.

Is WhatsApp really private?

WhatsApp messages are private: end-to-end encryption ensures that only you and the recipient can read them. Even WhatsApp and Meta cannot access message content.

However, WhatsApp does collect substantial metadata. Meta combines this information with data from Facebook, Instagram, and other services, allowing it to infer details about your location, age, contacts, preferences, and broader behavior.

Additionally, WhatsApp chat backups are not encrypted by default, making your history vulnerable if someone gains access to your iCloud or Google Drive account. When you factor in metadata collection, WhatsApp is less private than alternatives like Signal.

How secure is WhatsApp compared to other apps

WhatsApp is highly secure relative to many messaging apps. It uses end-to-end encryption for all content — texts, calls, videos, images, and more — and relies on the Signal Protocol, one of the most trusted encryption standards.

WhatsApp also provides scam-detection tools and AI-based checks to help identify suspicious activity. Still, the app protects your messages, not your device. You remain vulnerable to scams or malware that compromise your phone and, by extension, your WhatsApp app.