According to data provided by FEBRABAN in 2023, Brazilians surpassed the mark of 56 million banking operations via WhatsApp in 2022, representing a growth of 531% compared to 2021.

Since the Central Bank released the payment functionality, PIX, and receipts via messaging application, the service has become popular both among individuals and in the commercial sector, requiring users and companies to pay more attention to the security of personal data collected through this channel. To understand the importance of maintaining privacy on the platform, it is essential first to understand what is meant by 'personal data' and what type of information is collected by the tool.

What is personal data on WhatsApp?

Personal data is classified by WhatsApp as all information that identifies a person, either directly or indirectly. This can be a name, a phone number, email, or the number of a document. Violating the security of this data refers to the disclosure, loss, or alteration of this information in an illegal manner or accidentally.

In the case of companies that use WhatsApp as a customer service channel or even for sales, transparency about the handling of information provided by clients is fundamental and should include communication about the archiving of conversations and sensitive data. Since the General Data Protection Law came into effect in Brazil, it is a consumer's right to know what the company will do with private information, and it is the company's obligation to ensure security. Future messaging by this organization can also only occur with the express consent of customers, and sharing data with other companies is strictly FORBIDDEN.

3 security tips on WhatsApp for individuals

Regardless of the security devices created by WhatsApp to protect users' identities, certain precautions should be taken to avoid disturbances and the misuse of personal data by third parties.

Therefore:

1. Never share your PIN or two-step confirmation code with anyone;

2. Always check which devices are connected to your account;

3. Never open links to reset passwords or PINs from any establishment unless you requested it. When filling in the personal information on the link, a spy program will access your data.

4 security tips on WhatsApp for companies

The lack of transparency in handling personal data and sharing information from users and clients has led many companies to suffer sanctions from public authorities, such as paying heavy fines and suffering enormous damage to the company's credibility and image. Check the step-by-step process for implementing protective measures for the sensitive data of WhatsApp corporate users and corporations:

1. Create a communication management policy through corporate WhatsApp;

2. Train and educate your team about what can be addressed in the app, what precautions should be taken with confidential information, and the consequences for misconduct;

3. Adopt a monitoring tool for WhatsApp like Zapper, which tracks interactions from the company's number and sends notifications about rule violations;

4. Monitoring and not properly storing conversations is also a problem that the LGPD combats, so prefer cloud archiving, a resource also offered by the Zapper solution.

Common sense, training, and technology go hand in hand when it comes to data security. Do not compromise the privacy of sensitive information from your company and your clients. Prevention is key and often is the most effective alternative.

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