READY to ditch WhatsApp? We’ve put together a simple guide on how to abandon the app completely.
We’ll explain how to download all of your messages, photos and videos – and delete your account to boot.
Facebook recently admitted that a major cyber-breach gave hackers access to all 1.5billion WhatsApp users’ chats, photos and contacts.
Your confidence in Facebook’s ability to protect your privacy may be shaken – and rightly so.
And given the fact that multiple Facebook breaches were exposed last year, it’s clear that the company’s track record on security is poor.
If you’re ready to delete WhatsApp, follow the steps below and check out our guide to the best WhatsApp alternatives.
Sadly, WhatsApp has no way of downloading all of your messages in one go.
There is a ‘Download Your WhatsApp Data’ option, but this doesn’t include messages – so don’t bother.
However, you can download all of your messages in a single chat, and then repeat that process over and over again with all of your chats.
Simply open the chat you want to download, then tap on the top bar where the person’s (or group’s) name is.
Then scroll down and tap Export chat – and choose to export with or without media (your photos and videos).
You’ll then have to wait for the chat to be compressed into a downloadable file, which you can then save or email to yourself.
Remember that this file won’t update itself, so you’ll only see messages that you received before you hit export.
Here's what you need to know...
Facebook has built a simple way to delete your WhatsApp account right into the app.
First, open the app, and then tap on Settings, then Account.
At the bottom of the page, you’ll see an option for Delete My Account.
Choose a reason why you’re deleting your account and then tap Delete My Account.
Deleting your account performs the following actions:
It’s worth noting that you can’t regain access to your account once you’ve deleted it – so be sure you’re making the right decision first.
It can take up to 90 days for Facebook to delete all of your data stored in its backup systems. However, the data won’t be accessible on WhatsApp during this time.
Deletion also won’t affect any information others have relating to you, including their copy of the messages you’ve sent.
WhatsApp may also retain copies of some material (like log records) that have been disassociated from personal identifiers.
Your information may also be retain for legal purposes, for instance to “address fraud and other illegal activity”, according to WhatsApp.
Find out how to update WhatsApp and defend yourself against the new hack.
The bad news is that it may be impossible to detect evidence of the WhatsApp hack on your phone.
Even WhatsApp’s founder is urging users to delete Facebook.
Are you tempted to delete WhatsApp? Let us know in the comments!
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