Social Media

WhatsApp Tracking Site blames WhatsApp for letting them spy

A WhatsApp tracking site marketed to catching suspected cheating spouses blames WhatsApp for facilitating the service with its always-on online status feature. The website lets anyone enter the phone numbers of two or more WhatsApp users and see in an easy to understand visualization when each person was using the app, potentially indicating who was talking to who has blamed WhatsApp for allowing such a capability to existing.

“We feel Whatsapp should remove online statuses access from numbers that are not mutual contacts. This is the only reason we can operate; if they do that, we and all the other apps who do the same will not be able to operate,” the administrator of the website told Motherboard in an email.

The comments come after Motherboard reported how WhatsApp stands by its decision not to let users turn off a feature that displays when they are using the app, despite the privacy risks that this can pose and specific security issues for people who may face stalkers or abusive partners.

In WhatsApp, all users display an “online” notification under their profile picture when the app is open. As cybersecurity company Traced found, multiple online services leverages this feature to allow people to easily check whether a WhatsApp user is online without having to start a chat with them, and some of them specifically market themselves for tracking suspected cheating spouses.

The service offers users the ability to see anyone’s online history, receive push notifications when the target does go online, and even predict whether two people are speaking to each other by mapping out their WhatsApp activity.

The administrator told Motherboard they “track sleep patterns, use regression analysis to give you the probability of a chat between two people, for us, it’s just a fun (albeit challenging) way to shed light on the privacy issue.”

On Thursday, WhatsApp told Motherboard it took action against another specific WhatsApp tracking site by suspending the site’s related WhatsApp accounts and sending a cease and desist letter. WhatsApp told Motherboard it believes the same person is behind both sites.

Source: Vice

Sponsored
Ahsan Zafeer

A digital marketing professional specializing in content-based functional areas - Ahsan Zafeer is driven by a never-ending passion for developing, nurturing, and strategizing key content aspects. He writes extensively on tech, digital marketing, SEO, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. He also serves as a digital marketing strategist and freelance consultant for globally oriented organizations. He tweets @AhsanZafeer

Leave a Comment
Share
Published by
Ahsan Zafeer

Recent Posts

Microsoft Launches AI-Powered “Support Virtual Agent” for Xbox Users

Microsoft has launched its AI-powered “Support Virtual Agent” chatbot for Xbox Insiders in the U.S.,…

34 mins ago

Musk Says Tesla Won’t Enter Smartphone Market Unless Necessary

Android Authority recently polled its users to find out if they would purchase a Tesla…

43 mins ago

Sukkur IBA Sets Seven Conditions for Conducting MDCAT

The Secretary of the Sukkur IBA Testing Agency has formally requested urgent action from the…

1 hour ago

PSEB Opens Bidding for Nationwide e-Rozgar Centers

The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has launched a nationwide program to encourage IT startups…

2 hours ago

Google Play Services Bug Disrupts Access to Apps for Pixel Users: Here’s How to Fix It

A significant issue with Google Play Services has left many Pixel users unable to access…

2 hours ago

WhatsApp Beta Partners with Google for Innovative Image Search Feature

When it comes to Android messaging apps, WhatsApp stands out as one of the best.…

2 hours ago