Technology
How to Use WhatsApp Privacy Settings for Maximum Control Over Your Information
Privacy-related concerns are among the serious issues in this digital age, necessarily in the use of WhatsApp or other instant messaging platforms. As a matter of fact, WhatsApp is one of the most downloaded message apps in the globe. It allows the user of this highly downloaded app to have several privacy features while keeping information from contacts within. The following tutorial pages will show how WhatsApp’s privacy settings can be used to provide it with full control over one’s personal information so that you can converse with your mind at ease.
Why WhatsApp Privacy Matters
That has never been more important than it is today, when incidents of cyberattacks and breaches of concerns continue to increase. WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted out of the box, meaning that only the sender and recipient can read messages. But WhatsApp lets you adjust privacy settings that control who can see your activity and details about your profile.
By managing these settings, you can:
- Protect your personal data from prying eyes.
- Prevent unauthorized access to your profile and messages.
- Avoid being added to unwanted groups that expose your phone number and information.
In short, controlling your privacy on WhatsApp ensures your conversations and personal data stay protected.
Understanding WhatsApp Privacy Settings
WhatsApp also makes different privacy settings available to be enabled so that the amount of your personal information that is given out can be controlled. You open the app, go into Settings, then Account, and finally select Privacy. The following are the main WhatsApp features:
However, it’s worth noting that some users opt for third-party apps like WhatsApp GB to gain access to additional privacy features not available in the official app. WhatsApp GB or GBWA offers enhanced privacy controls, such as hiding your online status, blue ticks, and even typing indicators, without limiting your ability to see others’.
Last Seen and Online Status
Your “Last Seen” timestamp shows the last time you were active on WhatsApp. Full control over this feature at any time is important regarding questions of privacy.
- Who can see it: You can decide whether to share the Last Seen status with everyone, only your contacts, or even no one at all.
- Impact: If any person hides their Last Seen status, they will no longer be able to see others’ status.
Profile Photo Visibility
The profile picture is very often the first thing with which one interacts when using WhatsApp; thus, being able to control who can see it or not may be important for privacy.
- Who can see it: Choose whether everyone can see your profile photo, only your contacts can, or no one can.
- Why it matters: Don’t expose your profile picture to strangers or contacts you may not be able to trust. Limiting the visibility to close friends and family helps avoid this situation.
About Info Privacy
The “About” section on WhatsApp is where you share a brief status or description about yourself. Although it might seem trivial, this information can reveal a lot about you if not managed properly.
- Who can see it: Control whether your About information is visible to everyone, only your contacts, or no one.
- Why it’s important: Sensitive or personal information in the About section should be limited to those you trust.
Status Updates Privacy
WhatsApp Status Updates Like many social media stories, through WhatsApp status updates, you can post text photos and videos for as long as 24 hours. As they are not permanent, they still need to beLng given significant privacy control.
- Who can see it: The visibility option will give you a choice between making your status updates visible for all of your contacts, selected ones, or only one specific group.
- Why it is important: A status update contains personal content and should therefore only be shared with trusted contacts.
Controlling Group Privacy on WhatsApp
Group chats can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when added without your consent. WhatsApp gives you control over who can add you to groups.
Who Can Add You to Groups
This feature allows you to decide who can add you to WhatsApp groups, preventing strangers or unknown contacts from adding you.
- Options: Set it so only your contacts or select contacts can add you to groups.
- Benefit: Reducing unwanted group invites not only protects your privacy but also limits who can see your phone number and other details shared in groups.
Managing Group Info and Participation
When you are in a group, it is time to manage your participation. You will be able to view the phone number of the group members, and at times, other information about the member, depending on the set permissions within the group.
- Visibility control: Limit your visibility in groups by choosing not to share any details and by leaving/muting those groups where you’re uncomfortable.
- Personal info: Be mindful about what you share in group chats to protect your privacy.
Blocking and Reporting Contacts for Enhanced Privacy
Arguably, one of the most effective ways to be in control of your WhatsApp interactions is through blocking. This implies keeping unwanted contacts from messaging you, viewing your profile photo, or assessing your status.
How to Block Contacts
Blocking someone on WhatsApp is simple and highly effective.
- Steps: Go to the contact’s chat, tap their name, and select “Block.”
- Impact: Once blocked, they can no longer send you messages or see your profile photo or Last Seen.
Reporting Suspicious Contacts
You can report unwanted or suspicious messages to WhatsApp.
- When to report: Spam, harassment, or any other abusive messages.
- What happens: WhatsApp will investigate this report then take necessary action if needed, thus helping one to keep a safe chatting environment.
Two-Step Verification for Added Security
Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security to your WhatsApp account by requiring a PIN whenever you register your phone number.
Enabling Two-Step Verification
Enabling two-step verification is easy, and it’s a surefire way to ensure only you can register your phone number with WhatsApp.
- steps: Go to WhatsApp settings, find something related to data sharing there, and opt out of it.
- Why it matters: By limiting any data-sharing at all, you retain a larger level of control over your personal information and are constraining focused advertisements through Facebook.
Managing Data Sharing Permissions with WhatsApp and Facebook
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, has always brought up questions about the data shared between the platforms. The data shared doesn’t include your messages, but other personal info definitely does, such as phone numbers and device information.
Opting Out of Data Sharing with Facebook
You can manage your data sharing permissions to prevent WhatsApp from sharing your information with Facebook.
- Steps: In WhatsApp settings, look for the data-sharing options and opt-out.
- Why it’s important: Reducing data sharing helps you retain more control over your personal information and limits targeted ads from Facebook.
How to Secure Chats with End-to-End Encryption
WhatsApp’s default feature is end-to-end encryption, meaning only you and the person you’re communicating with can read your messages.
Verifying Encryption for Specific Chats
To ensure your chats are encrypted, you can verify the encryption status.
- Steps: Open a chat, tap the contact’s name, and select “Encryption.” You’ll see a code that ensures your messages are secure.
- Importance: Verifying encryption gives you peace of mind that your messages are protected from third parties.
Best Practices for WhatsApp Privacy
Maximizing your privacy on WhatsApp requires ongoing attention. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:
Regularly Update Your App
WhatsApp updates its privacy features regularly, so keeping the app updated means you have access to the latest security tools.
- Why it matters: Updates often include critical privacy enhancements to protect your data.
Be Mindful of Shared Links and Media
Shared media, like photos and videos, can expose personal information if you’re not careful.
- Tips: Only share content with trusted contacts, and be mindful of what’s visible in your photos or videos.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your Privacy on WhatsApp
WhatsApp has other powerful features with regard to privacy: basically, the right for users to decide with whom they share their personal information and where their data spreads. From settings controlling your Last Seen, enabling two-step verification-these set-ups give you ways to make sure your data is kept secure. Thus, be sure that your information is going to stay safe, protected by your choice, when you go through your privacy settings and update them from time to time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a way that I can hide my WhatsApp profile photo from someone?
Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Profile Photo and select “My Contacts Except.” to exclude the photo from certain people.
What happens if I block a person on WhatsApp?
The blocked contact cannot see your Last Seen, profile photo, and even cannot send you messages.
Can I somehow stop adding me to different groups without asking for my permission?
Yes, you can. To do this, go into Settings -> Privacy -> Groups, and then select either “My Contacts” or “My Contacts Except.”
How do I know my chat in WhatsApp is encrypted?
To verify the security code, making sure that end-to-end encryption is enabled, tap on the name of the contact in the conversation, then on “Encryption”.
What does two-step verification do, and why should I enable it?
Two-step verification works by first providing an extra layer during WhatsApp’s registering process, whereby one has to create a PIN, which offers additional security to prevent unauthorized access to the account.
Technology
Can Nigeria Build Enough Solar Panels? TechCartel Breaks Down the New Taxes on Imported Tech
There was a time when a solar panel on a Nigerian rooftop was a luxury, the kind of thing you saw at a hotel or a church with generous donors. That time has passed. Across the country, solar panels have become a defining feature of the skyline, appearing on rooftops and office blocks in nearly every neighborhood. Once viewed as a luxury, solar has transitioned into a fundamental necessity for millions of households and businesses. For many, it serves as the foundation of their daily power needs.
The Federal Government has now moved to change how those panels get into the country, and the implications are landing on an energy market that has quietly built its entire informal infrastructure around imported solar hardware.
According to a detailed breakdown published by TechCartel, one of Nigeria’s most closely watched tech publications for consumer technology, the government is not staging an overnight ban. What it is staging is a structured financial squeeze: higher import taxes on finished solar panels, lower duties on raw materials for local manufacturers, and a 2036 target for 100 percent local production.
The policy timeline started earlier than most people noticed. In March 2025, the Minister of State for Technology, Uche Nnaji, announced a Solar Import Phase-out Roadmap. The stated motivation was the import bill, which crossed ₦200 billion in a single year. By January 2026, the Rural Electrification Agency reported that local manufacturing capacity had grown from 120 MW to 300 MW. On April 1, 2026, the Minister of Finance signed the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, formally introducing Import Adjustment Taxes on finished solar goods. A Green Tax Surcharge follows on July 1, 2026.
For anyone who opened an import Form M before April 1, there is a 90-day window to clear goods at the old rate. After that, the new cost structure kicks in. The Secure Energy Project estimates a 15 to 25 percent rise in solar panel prices by late 2026.
Can Nigerians Still Afford to Power Themselves?
To understand why this policy lands differently in Nigeria than it would elsewhere, you have to understand what the grid has done to Nigerian electricity habits. Years of erratic supply, multi-hour daily outages, and voltage fluctuations that destroy electronics did not produce a population waiting patiently for the government to fix things. It produced a population that fixed things itself.
First came generators, petrol then diesel then gas. Then came inverters with lead-acid batteries, then lithium batteries, and then solar panels added on top to charge them without spending on fuel. The 1 kWh solar generator, once considered a niche product, is now a completely ordinary fixture in small households and one-room businesses. Some call them power stations, and that name has started to feel accurate. Provisions shops, phone repair kiosks, tailoring studios, and barbing salons run on them every single day. They are small enough to sit on a balcony, affordable enough for a two-month savings plan, and powerful enough to run lights, DC fans, and a phone charger without touching a NEPA bill.
The scale goes well beyond individual homes. Petrol stations that once ran generators round the clock have converted their canopy roofs into solar arrays, running hybrid systems where solar handles daytime load and the generator only kicks in at night. Pharmacies, internet cafés, printing shops, and cold rooms powering perishables now run on solar. The solar transition in Nigeria has been market-driven and it has moved fast.
That context is what makes the arithmetic in TechCartel’s breakdown so pointed. Nigeria’s local solar manufacturing capacity stands at 300 MW as of April 2026. The country’s estimated demand for energy stability is 3.7 GW. The gap is over 3,400 MW. Local manufacturers currently price their panels about 16 percent above imported alternatives. As import taxes rise, that gap will narrow, but the timeline is vital. If local capacity grows faster than analysts expect, the transition could be orderly.
The government’s $425 million commitment to eight new manufacturing plants, and the 150 percent capacity growth achieved in a single year, suggest the industrial ambition is real. Nigerian-assembled panels are already being exported to Ghana and Burkina Faso, which signals a manufacturing base serious enough to serve regional demand. The 2036 target is a decade away, but the trajectory is being built now.
For Nigerians planning a solar installation in the coming months, the window is clear. The Form M grace period runs 90 days from April 1. The Green Tax Surcharge begins July 1. Any installation completed before that first wave of cost increases arrives will avoid the opening price shock. After that, the cost of running your own power in Nigeria, already a choice made out of necessity, gets a little harder to justify on a budget.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has warned of an active, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered malware named DeepLoad targeting financial institutions and government agencies
The organisation warned that the new harmful malware is targeting Nigerian government agencies, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals.
In a tweet on its verified X handle, NITDA revealed that once the virus is executed, DeepLoad silently installs itself, harvests stored user credentials and sensitive data from browsers, evading antivirus software by leveraging AI.
NITDA further stated that upon infection, the malware can result in unauthorised access to bank accounts, mobile money services, and payment cards.
It reiterated that the malware also steals saved passwords, personal information, and documents.
It explained that these thefts enable criminals to impersonate victims for financial gains, disruption of public/private organisations’ workflow via document theft, and ultimately a threat to national security via the compromise of classified governance networks.
The agency outlined that the malware targets public and private institutions, Banks and Financial institutions, Critical infrastructure operators, and individual citizens using online banking and email.
The agency cautioned against pasting links and commands from untrusted websites into your computer or phone’s browser, as legitimate websites do not ask for such.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to strengthen data protection, privacy compliance, and responsible data governance across Nigeria’s public sector and state institutions.
Speaking during the signing of the MoU with the Bureau of Public Procurement, the National Commissioner/CEO of the NDPC, Mr Vincent Olatunji, commended the leadership of the BPP for prioritising privacy and data governance.
“Data privacy is a global imperative for building trust, confidence, and credibility within the digital ecosystem. The NDPC remains committed to supporting the integration of robust data protection standards within Nigeria’s procurement sector.”
In his remarks, the Director-General of the BPP, Mr Adebowale Adedokun, reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to ethical data management and compliance with global best practices.
“We recognise that the unlawful disclosure of government information is a criminal offence. As we embrace technology, there is a growing need to strengthen safeguards for the protection of sensitive information.”
As part of the collaboration, Mr Olatunji offered 50 Virtual Privacy Academy vouchers to BPP staff to support capacity development in data protection and privacy. Dr Adedokun welcomed the initiative and proposed broader training opportunities for the Bureau’s 453 procurement officers nationwide.
In a related development, the NDPC also signed an MoU with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to deepen data protection and privacy at the state level.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Olatunji commended the leadership of the NGF for its readiness to partner with the Commission in advancing responsible data governance at the state level.
“Compliance with data protection obligations is critical to strengthening privacy frameworks across our states, thereby accelerating nationwide adoption, enhancing investor confidence, and foreign direct investment.”
The Director-General of the NGF, Mr Abdulateef Shittu, reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to strengthening data protection and privacy across the states.
“This partnership with the NDPC is a strategic step towards securing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and advancing responsible data governance at the subnational level.”
To ensure effective implementation of both agreements, working groups were established by the NDPC with the BPP and the NGF, respectively, to develop actionable frameworks for swift implementation.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn