How to prevent strangers from messaging me in WhatsApp on iPhone?

How to prevent strangers from messaging me in WhatsApp on iPhone - briefly?

To prevent strangers from messaging you on WhatsApp using an iPhone, adjust your privacy settings. Go to "Settings" > "Account" > "Privacy" > "Messages," and select who can message you: "Everyone," "My Contacts," or "Nobody."

How to prevent strangers from messaging me in WhatsApp on iPhone - in detail?

To prevent strangers from messaging you on WhatsApp using an iPhone, follow these detailed steps:

Step 1: Adjust Your Privacy Settings

1. Open WhatsApp: Launch the WhatsApp application on your iPhone.
2. Go to Settings: Tap on 'Settings' at the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Select Account: In the settings menu, tap on 'Account'.
4. Privacy: Under the 'Account' section, tap on 'Privacy'.
5. Last Seen and Profile Photo: You can choose who sees your last seen status and profile photo by selecting either 'Everyone', 'My Contacts', or 'Nobody'. For maximum privacy, select 'Nobody'.
6. Status: Similarly, you can control who views your status updates by choosing from the same options.

Step 2: Control Who Can Add You to Groups

1. Groups: In the 'Privacy' settings menu, tap on 'Groups'.
2. Who Can Add Me: Choose between 'Everyone', 'My Contacts', or 'Nobody'. Selecting 'Nobody' ensures that only you can add yourself to groups.

Step 3: Block Unknown Numbers

1. Blocked Contacts: Return to the main 'Settings' menu and tap on 'Account'.
2. Privacy: Under the 'Account' section, tap on 'Privacy'.
3. Blocked: Tap on 'Blocked' to see a list of numbers you have blocked.
4. Add New: To block an unknown number, tap on 'Add New...' and select the contact or number you want to block.

Step 4: Use Two-Step Verification for Additional Security

1. Two-Step Verification: In the main 'Settings' menu of WhatsApp, tap on 'Account'.
2. Two-Step Verification: Tap on 'Two-Step Verification'.
3. Enable: Follow the prompts to enable two-step verification. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a PIN when registering your phone number with WhatsApp.

Step 5: Report and Block Spammy Messages

1. Long Press: If you receive a message from an unknown number, long press on the message to reveal options.
2. Report/Block: Tap on 'Report' or 'Block' depending on your preference. Reporting spam helps WhatsApp identify and block such numbers in the future.

Step 6: Limit Forwarded Messages

1. Forwarded Limit: In the main 'Settings' menu, tap on 'Account'.
2. Privacy: Under the 'Account' section, tap on 'Privacy'.
3. Forwarded Messages: Tap on 'Forwarded Messages' and select the option that best suits your needs to limit the spread of potentially unwanted content.

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of strangers messaging you on WhatsApp using your iPhone. Adjusting privacy settings, blocking unknown numbers, enabling two-step verification, reporting spammy messages, and limiting forwarded messages will help safeguard your communication experience.