Changes made to the group settings on WhatsApp has prompted police to issue a warning on social media.
The changes to the app concern the group settings, which according to a post being widely shared on Facebook and Twitter, now includes "everyone" by default.
This change means people can add you to a group chat without you knowing.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
However, although the viral message has been doing the rounds recently, the changes made by WhatsApp to their group settings was implemented in 2019.
The WhatsApp blog said the changes were to help "family, friends, co-workers, classmates" connect after users "asked for more control over their experience".
But the default setting that "everyone" can add users to a group can make people more susceptible to scam messages and loan sharks claims a viral post shared by Upton Police force on Facebook alongside the hashtag '#staysafeonsocialmedia'.
The post shared by the Cheshire Constabulary said: "WhatsApp has changed its group settings to include 'everyone' by default so people you don’t know can add you to a group without your knowing.
"These people may include scam messages, loan Sharks, etc."
The post then went on to describe how you change the settings in the app to make them more private.
How to change the group privacy settings on WhatsApp
- Go to WhatsApp
- Go into Settings
- Go to Account
- Go to Privacy
- Go to Groups
- Change from (Everyone) to (My Contacts)
