• Latest
  • All
  • How To
WhatsApp

Why Your Private WhatsApp Chat Groups Aren’t That Private

February 22, 2020
Infinix GT 30 Pro

Infinix Unveils the GT 30 Pro with 120 FPS Certification for PUBG

May 22, 2025
Microsoft Recall

Signal Blocks Microsoft Recall Feature to Protect Private Chats

May 22, 2025
Infinix XPad GT

The Infinix XPad GT Gaming Tablet Makes Its Debut at $400

May 22, 2025
Passport Application

How to Apply for a Kenyan Passport Online in 2025: A Complete Guide

May 22, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
google-chrome

Google Chrome Will Start Automatically Replacing Your Weak Passwords

May 22, 2025
telegram

Telegram Posts $540m Profit Despite Founder’s Legal Hurdles

May 22, 2025
ID Checks May Soon Be Required for Social Media in Kenya

ID Checks May Soon Be Required for Social Media in Kenya

May 21, 2025
Safaricom launches revamped business loans

Safaricom Unveils Business Credit via M-PESA and Pochi Wallets

May 21, 2025
huwaei-matebook-x-fold

Huawei Debuts Foldable Laptop Running on HarmonyOS 5

May 21, 2025
google-meet

Google Meet Brings Real-Time Language Translation with Gemini

May 21, 2025
NSSF Hacking Claims Disputed: Fund Says No Member Data Compromised

NSSF Denies Allegations of Massive 2.5TB Data Breach

May 21, 2025
Google I/O 2025

Google I/O 2025 Highlights: Gemini, XR Glasses & Project Astra

May 21, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Why Your Private WhatsApp Chat Groups Aren’t That Private

George Kamau by George Kamau
February 22, 2020
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
262
0
WhatsApp

WhatsApp for android

WhatsApp has had its own security issues such as the alleged hack of Jeff Bezos phone by Sudi Arabia and the vulnerability that allowed malicious actors to inject spyware on iOS and Android phones via a phone call. This latest mishap should scare you a bit. WhatsApp’s invite links to private chat groups are searchable on most search engines. This makes them discoverable and literally anyone can join them.

Jordan Wildon, a journalist for Germany-based DW News discovered this privacy flaw and took to Twitter. The “Invite to Group Link” WhatsApp feature let Google and other search engines index the groups making them visible across the internet.

https://twitter.com/JordanWildon/status/1230829082662842369

It should be worrying as the invite links are shared outside of WhatsApp’s secure private messaging app.

This is scary as you can refine your searches and easily find interesting groups.

I see some very interesting #OSINT possibilities out there with a little Dorking. https://t.co/VhFUvbOQGe

— Zerconil 🔻 (@zerconil) February 21, 2020

This issue had been raised but as usual, Facebook-owned WhatsApp kept it lowkey.

Of course they downplayed the significance of the issue…

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) February 21, 2020

Vice’s Motherboard went deep and even joined groups such as an NGO groups accredited by the UN. Vice now had access to all of the group participants phone numbers.

WhatsApp is so incompetent that even when admins invalidate that invite link, the app creates a new link and doesn’t disable the old link.

However, the app cautions the person or admin generating the link to share it with people they trust.

“Search engines like Google & others list pages from the open web. That’s what’s happening here. It’s no different than any case where a site allows URLs to be publicly listed,” said Danny Sullivan, Google’s public search liaison in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/1230921450598461440

It is WhatsApp’s fault not Google’s

https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/1231132501617172482

What Google is doing

Danny Sullivan added a link to directions in Google’s Help Center for blocking content from being included in search results

https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/1231135830887944192

Flaw Fixed

WhatsApp has since fixed this flaw by removing the existing listing from Google and adding the noindex meta tag on the chat invitation links.

However, when you use other search engines such as Yandex, Bing and DuckDuckGo, you’ll find the links still listed.

It's great to see WhatsApp taking steps to fix the oversight. It's only the first steps though, because, as an open web,

the search results are still listed on other search engines like Yandex, Bing and DuckDuckGo pic.twitter.com/hTth6HciEe

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) February 22, 2020

Here’s what WhatsApp could’ve done better

WhatsApp could've prevented their group invite links from appearing on search engines like Google by specifying it in a file called "robots.txt" or including the specific info in the webpagehttps://t.co/RYWh84GpP3

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) February 21, 2020

Here’s What You can do

Google has a tool that will tell its earch engine to not index the links to your WhatsApp groups. But headsup, its a taxing process.

You can also ask group members in your chat to not share links outside of WhatsApp.

Another option is to stop using WhatsApp, not just of its security issues but also the lack of features its other better and more private chat apps have such as Telegram, Wickr Me and Signal.

What about other private messaging apps

Telegram links are also listed on search engines even though the app has private groups that aren’t searchable.

https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/1231127219897950209

Privacy Apps You Should Download Right Now!

Tags: GoogleWhatsApp
SendShare147Tweet92
George Kamau

George Kamau

I brunch on consumer tech | [email protected]

Related Posts

google-chrome

Google Chrome Will Start Automatically Replacing Your Weak Passwords

May 22, 2025
google-meet

Google Meet Brings Real-Time Language Translation with Gemini

May 21, 2025
Google I/O 2025

Google I/O 2025 Highlights: Gemini, XR Glasses & Project Astra

May 21, 2025
Google I/O 2025

Google I/O 2025: Android 16, Gemini AI, and the Future of Smart Devices

May 20, 2025
Apple Event

Apple Becomes First Trillion Dollar Brand in New Global Ranking

May 20, 2025
Google One

Google One Hits 150 Million Users, Thanks to AI Premium Plan

May 17, 2025

Latest

Infinix GT 30 Pro

Infinix Unveils the GT 30 Pro with 120 FPS Certification for PUBG

May 22, 2025
Microsoft Recall

Signal Blocks Microsoft Recall Feature to Protect Private Chats

May 22, 2025
Infinix XPad GT

The Infinix XPad GT Gaming Tablet Makes Its Debut at $400

May 22, 2025
Passport Application

How to Apply for a Kenyan Passport Online in 2025: A Complete Guide

May 22, 2025
google-chrome

Google Chrome Will Start Automatically Replacing Your Weak Passwords

May 22, 2025
telegram

Telegram Posts $540m Profit Despite Founder’s Legal Hurdles

May 22, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Infinix Unveils the GT 30 Pro with 120 FPS Certification for PUBG

May 22, 2025

Signal Blocks Microsoft Recall Feature to Protect Private Chats

May 22, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

Introducing A Brainbox Quiz: Techweez’s Monthly Trivia Night!

5 Most Reliable Virtual Dollar Card Providers in Nigeria

More News

ID Checks May Soon Be Required for Social Media in Kenya

Safaricom Unveils Business Credit via M-PESA and Pochi Wallets

Huawei Debuts Foldable Laptop Running on HarmonyOS 5

Google Meet Brings Real-Time Language Translation with Gemini

NSSF Denies Allegations of Massive 2.5TB Data Breach

Google I/O 2025 Highlights: Gemini, XR Glasses & Project Astra

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.