There is a big news for WhatsApp users! Now you will not need to share your personal mobile number to chat with anyone. Yes, WhatsApp has started rolling out a new feature which will completely change your privacy. But… will you be safer with the arrival of this new feature, or will you get trapped in the trap of cyber thugs? Let us know –
What is this new feature and how will it work?
Actually, WhatsApp has officially started this new feature. Now you will be able to start a chat with anyone through just a ‘username’ without sharing your number.
Chat without sharing number
This feature has basically been introduced to increase the privacy of users. Under this, every user will be able to reserve a unique username for himself – just like you do on Instagram or Twitter. Not only this, for additional security you will also get the option of a ‘Username Key’ i.e. PIN. The advantage of this will be that no unknown person will be able to harass or contact you directly just by knowing your username.
Many people will have this question in their mind that will anyone find us by searching our username? So the answer is – No. There will be no public username search directory on WhatsApp. That is, if someone wants to connect with you, then it will be necessary for him to know your exact and accurate username.
‘No public search directory’
The thing to note here is that mobile number will remain necessary for account creation and verification as before. Username will be used only for making contacts and chatting. Let us tell you that apps like Telegram are already providing such facility, and now WhatsApp has also followed the same path.
Cyber scam and big security threat
Although, at first glance, this feature may seem great for privacy, but tech experts and security agencies have issued a big alert regarding it. According to experts, this feature can give a big boost to cyber scams.
Danger of cyber scam will increase!
The biggest matter of concern is that a customer can change his username whenever he wants, as many times as he wants. In such a situation, if a scammer cheats someone, he will immediately change his username, which will make it very easy to hide his real identity. Experts believe that not only will common people become victims of fraud, but this facility of fake ID and hiding the identity can also pose a serious threat to the security of the country.
So this new feature of WhatsApp has started rolling out gradually all over the world. This is a big step in terms of privacy, but it has also brought a new challenge on the security front. Now it remains to be seen what steps WhatsApp takes to deal with the threat of this scam.
