How do I prevent unknown people from messaging me on WhatsApp?

How do I prevent unknown people from messaging me on WhatsApp - briefly?

To prevent unknown people from messaging you on WhatsApp, set your privacy settings to allow only contacts to message you. This can be done by going to Settings > Account > Privacy > Messages and selecting "Contacts" or "My Contacts Except".

How do I prevent unknown people from messaging me on WhatsApp - in detail?

Preventing unwanted messages from unknown individuals on WhatsApp involves a combination of privacy settings and user behavior. Here is a detailed guide to help you secure your communications:

1. Adjust Your Privacy Settings:

   • Phone Number Privacy: By default, anyone who has your phone number can message you on WhatsApp. To restrict this, go to Settings > Account > Privacy. Here, set the Last Seen, Profile Photo, and Status options to Nobody if you want maximum privacy. For Read Receipts, you can choose to turn them off completely or limit them to people in your contacts.
   • Who Can Add Me to Groups: Unknown individuals can add you to groups without your consent unless you change this setting. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy, and set Groups to Nobody. This means only people you have added to your contacts list can add you to groups.
   • Who Can See My Personal Information: Restrict access to your personal information such as your profile picture, about section, and status updates by setting these options to Nobody or My Contacts.

2. Block Unknown Numbers:

   • If you start receiving messages from unknown numbers, you can block them immediately. To do this, open the chat with the unknown number, tap on the three dots (menu) at the top right corner of the screen, and select Block. Blocked contacts will not be able to message or call you.
   • Report Spam: If a message appears to be spam or suspicious, you can report it by long-pressing on the message and selecting the Report option. WhatsApp uses this information to improve its anti-spam measures.

3. Use Two-Step Verification:

   • Enable two-step verification for an extra layer of security. This feature requires you to enter a PIN whenever you want to register your phone number with WhatsApp again or link it to a new device. Go to Settings > Account > Two-step verification, and follow the prompts to set up your PIN.

4. Control Group Invitations:

   • If you do not want to be added to groups by unknown people, change the group settings to Nobody. This means only those in your contact list can add you to groups. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy, and set Groups to Nobody.

5. Limit Visibility of Your Profile Picture:

   • Set the visibility of your profile picture to Nobody or My Contacts. This prevents unknown individuals from seeing your picture, which can help reduce unwanted attention. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy, and set Profile Photo to your desired option.

6. Regularly Update Your App:

   • Ensure that you are using the latest version of WhatsApp. Updates often include security enhancements and bug fixes that can help protect your account from unwanted messages and potential threats.

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of receiving unwanted messages from unknown individuals on WhatsApp. Stay vigilant and always be cautious about sharing your phone number with people you do not trust.