GB WhatsApp is a modified version of the official WhatsApp messenger app for Android devices. It offers many additional features compared to the original WhatsApp, such as customized themes, increased media sharing limits, and more privacy controls. However, since it is not an official WhatsApp product, there are concerns around whether using GB WhatsApp is safe and secure. In this comprehensive article, we will examine the key facts around GB WhatsApp and evaluate whether it is safe to use or not.
What is GB WhatsApp?
GB WhatsApp is a modified version of WhatsApp for Android devices. It is not officially affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsApp/Facebook in any way. GB WhatsApp provides many additional features and customizations on top of the standard WhatsApp user experience, including:
- Ability to customize themes and layout
- Increased media sharing limits (videos up to 50MB instead of 16MB)
- Built-in app lock/unlock with password or fingerprint
- Hide online status and blue ticks (read receipts)
- Ability to auto-reply to messages
- Increased group size limits (up to 200 members)
These additional features make GB WhatsApp an attractive alternative for many users who want more control and customization. However, the unofficial nature of the app has raised many questions around whether it is safe and secure to use.
Is GB WhatsApp allowed by WhatsApp?
No, GB WhatsApp is not allowed or endorsed by WhatsApp or Facebook in any way. The official WhatsApp regularly issues cease-and-desist warnings against GB WhatsApp and states that it has no affiliation with the third-party app. Using any unauthorized or modified version of WhatsApp goes against the official WhatsApp end-user license agreement.
Does GB WhatsApp access your WhatsApp data?
Yes, in order to function, GB WhatsApp requires access to your WhatsApp user account and all associated data. When you register on GB WhatsApp, it verifies your account using your regular WhatsApp login credentials and phone number. This grants GB WhatsApp full access to your messages, contacts, media, groups, and other account information. Your usage of GB WhatsApp is also not hidden from the official WhatsApp – your account activity will be visible.
Is GB WhatsApp safe from hacking?
There are serious concerns around whether GB WhatsApp is safe from hacking or security vulnerabilities. Since GB WhatsApp is an unofficial third-party application, the code is not reviewed or audited to the same security standards as the official WhatsApp app. Important security updates may also be missed. This leaves open potential loopholes that could be exploited by hackers to compromise user accounts and data. There have been some reported cases of GB WhatsApp versions containing malware, spyware or viruses, although these tend to get removed quickly.
Does GB WhatsApp comply with privacy laws?
It is highly unlikely that GB WhatsApp complies with privacy laws and regulations in the same way as official WhatsApp does. WhatsApp faces stringent privacy requirements like GDPR and has dedicated teams to ensure legal compliance. As an unofficial app, GB WhatsApp is highly unlikely to fulfill all necessary legal privacy obligations around handling user data. This leaves users more vulnerable to potential privacy violations.
Can your WhatsApp account get banned for using GB WhatsApp?
Yes, there is a risk of your main WhatsApp account getting banned if you use unofficial third-party apps like GB WhatsApp. The official WhatsApp regularly suspends accounts that use modified or unauthorized versions of WhatsApp. Once banned, it can be very difficult to get your account unblocked. And if your account does get banned, you will lose access to all your WhatsApp messages and groups which are only stored centrally. So using GB WhatsApp certainly carries account security risks.
Does GB WhatsApp have end-to-end encryption?
GB WhatsApp claims to have full end-to-end encryption for messages, in the same way as the official WhatsApp app. However, security experts have raised doubts about whether GB WhatsApp’s implementation of end-to-end encryption is robust enough, since the app is unofficial and the code is not audited. Some security loopholes in the encryption may exist that could allow messages to be intercepted in certain situations. So GB WhatsApp may have encryption, but it is unclear if it provides airtight protection.
Can you transfer your chats from WhatsApp to GB WhatsApp?
Yes, when moving from the official WhatsApp to GB WhatsApp on the same phone, there is an option to transfer your chat history, media, and settings to the new app. However, transfer in the other direction (GB WhatsApp to WhatsApp) is not supported – so your chat history could become inaccessible if you switch back from GB WhatsApp later on. Transfer to a new phone may also not work reliably.
Does GB WhatsApp work the same as WhatsApp Web?
GB WhatsApp provides its own version of WhatsApp Web that mirrors some features like messaging from your computer browser. However, it does not provide full parity with the official WhatsApp Web experience. For example, some settings like privacy cannot be configured from GB WhatsApp Web. Video calling also does not work reliably from the browser. Overall, expect a more limited experience compared to the official WhatsApp Web.
Can you use WhatsApp and GB WhatsApp on the same phone?
It is possible to install both the official WhatsApp and GB WhatsApp on the same Android phone. However, you can only use one of them actively at a time, as they will conflict if trying to verify with the same phone number. You would need to register each app with a different phone number to use both at the same time. This is usually not recommended, as it splits your conversations across two accounts.
Does GB WhatsApp drain your phone’s battery faster?
In most cases, GB WhatsApp has minimal impact on battery life compared to the regular WhatsApp app. However, some users have reported increased battery drain in certain situations like when using video calling or if the app has bugs. The extra features in GB WhatsApp may require additional background processing that eats into battery life. But optimizations in recent versions have reduced this battery drain impact significantly.
Can you use WhatsApp on multiple devices with GB WhatsApp?
No, the official WhatsApp’s multi-device feature that lets you use WhatsApp on up to 4 linked devices does not work with GB WhatsApp. Even if your main WhatsApp account has multi-device enabled, those linked devices will not be able to sync their WhatsApp chats and messages with your GB WhatsApp install. Multi-device support is restricted only to the official WhatsApp app.
Does GB WhatsApp work in countries where WhatsApp is banned?
In some countries where the official WhatsApp app is banned or blocked, modified versions like GB WhatsApp sometimes manage to evade the restrictions and still function. However, connectivity can be patchy or unreliable in these regions as workarounds are required. Also, using an unauthorized app may violate local laws. In most cases, you will have a better experience using a VPN along with the official WhatsApp instead.
Is there an iPhone version of GB WhatsApp?
No, GB WhatsApp is only available for Android devices. It cannot be installed on iOS/iPhone devices due to the closed nature of the platform. Any modified or third-party WhatsApp apps are strictly banned from the Apple App Store. There are some web-based workarounds like using WhatsApp Plus Web which brings some GB WhatsApp features to iPhone, but with limited functionality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while GB WhatsApp provides useful additional features beyond the official WhatsApp app, there are very serious concerns around its security, privacy, account risks, and uncertainties due to its unofficial unverified nature. For most users, the potential dangers outweigh the benefits, and it is recommended to use the official WhatsApp app whenever possible, even if it lacks some advanced features. Avoiding unauthorized modified apps reduces the risks of your account being banned, hacked, or compromised.
If you do choose to utilize GB WhatsApp, do so with extreme caution – be very wary of any app permissions requested, encrypt backups, don’t connect unknown links/files, monitor resource usage, and frequently change passwords to reduce the attack surface. And migrate back to the official WhatsApp app as soon as feasible to limit security exposure. While the extra features of GB WhatsApp are tempting, they simply are not worth the plethora of potential privacy and account risks you expose yourself to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GB WhatsApp completely safe to use?
No, GB WhatsApp has major security risks and uncertainties due to being an unverified third-party app. Use with extreme caution.
Does GB WhatsApp show different online status to contacts?
Yes, you can configure GB WhatsApp to always show you as ‘offline’ to contacts even when online.
Can you get old messages if you switch from WhatsApp to GB WhatsApp?
Yes, your chat history can be transferred when moving from official WhatsApp to GB WhatsApp on the same device.
Does GB WhatsApp work on Android tablets?
Yes, GB WhatsApp is compatible with and optimized for Android tablets, unlike the official WhatsApp.
Is my phone number visible to others when using GB WhatsApp?
No, your personal phone number is still hidden from public view and contacts you haven’t exchanged numbers with.