Shock: Many WhatsApp private group chat links are searchable on Google

WhatsApp should adjust the way users share invitations to group chats on their platform.

WhatsApp has always been known as one of the safest online messaging services in the world. Compared to many other online chat services, WhatsApp's privacy issues are much less. However, for platforms with such good security, once something goes wrong, that's the big deal.

Cyber security experts from the Motherboard team have recently discovered that the invitation links for more than 470,000 private chat groups on the WhatsApp messaging app are indexed by Google, essentially allowing any Anyone can find these group chats and join.

The information could be considered a shocking finding, as these are 'chat rooms' that are designed for people to talk privately. Not only that, the names and phone numbers of the chat room members are easily collected, and the information leaked in these chat groups can cause great economic losses. and mentally with the people involved.

Shock: Many WhatsApp private group chat links are searchable on Google Picture 1 — Private group chat links are indexed by Google

'The problem seems to stem from users posting links to private chat groups to share with each other on open websites,' a WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement to Motherboard. Normally, if you want to join a group chat on WhatsApp, users will have to access the link to invite to join the group. However, these links can easily be copied by members already in the group and shared on many publicly accessible websites or social networks.

With just a few simple searches, cybersecurity experts were able to gain access to about 470,000 links to join the WhatsApp chat group. Many of these are related to the sharing of pornography, or are believed to be associated with major organizations, including the United Nations.

WhatsApp has had a lot of privacy and security issues in the past, but it's clear that these types of incidents are hard to accept. Linking to a private chat group indexed by Google is a major privacy flaw for this online messaging platform.

Google says the company is working to block WhatsApp group links from search results. However, this is not really Google's fault. Instead, WhatsApp should adjust the way users share invitations to group chats on their platform.