Limit "Last Seen," "Profile Photo," and "About" to "My Contacts" or "Nobody." This prevents unknown users from seeing your information even if they get your number.
Enable Two-Step Verification (2FA) on WhatsApp: This is vital! It adds a PIN that you'll need to enter when registering your number on a new device, preventing account takeovers even if someone gets your SMS verification code.
In essence, while asking for a WhatsApp number can be for perfectly legitimate reasons, the news consistently warns that it's also a common first step in many scams. Always be cautious, verify the identity of the person asking, and never share any verification codes you receive.
This is the biggest recent news impacting lebanon whatsapp number data how WhatsApp numbers "look" or how users are identified.
Introduction of Usernames: a feature that allows users to create unique usernames (e.g.,
Alternative Identification: Instead of solely relying on your phone number, you will be able to share your username with others. They can then search for you by this username directly within WhatsApp to start a conversation, without ever seeing your phone number.
Privacy Enhancement: News sources (like WABetaInfo, NDTV, Exhibit Tech) consistently highlight this as a significant privacy feature. It allows users to control who sees their personal phone number, especially when connecting with new contacts or in public-facing roles (like businesses).
Coexistence: While usernames are coming, your phone number will still be the primary identifier for your account and for existing contacts who already have your number. Usernames are an optional alternative for new connections.
Status: This feature has been widely reported in beta versions for Android and iOS and is expected to be rolled out more broadly soon. News also indicates WhatsApp will notify users when contacts change their usernames to prevent confusion.
In summary:
WhatsApp numbers currently look like a + followed by the country code and the full national phone number, with no other characters. The big news, however, is that in the near future, WhatsApp users will also look like they have a unique @username, providing a new, privacy-focused way to connect that lessens the reliance on directly sharing phone numbers.