Despite being the best and most popular messaging app, WhatsApp has many limitations that users do not like. This has led many developers to provide alternative applications to bypass those limitations. I do not mean other messaging applications like Telegram, Signal, and others, but modified WhatsApp applications like WhatsApp Plus, GB WhatsApp, and other famous names.
There are many reasons why users install these applications on their phones. They offer more additional features and allow you to run two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone, among other things. But are they safe? Can they protect your privacy, or do they have security issues? We will explore this in detail in this topic.
What are modified WhatsApp applications?
Modified WhatsApp applications are generally cloned applications of the original WhatsApp. Developers modify the WhatsApp code to add more features that users desire. However, adding external codes to messaging applications may not be safe. What if those codes contain malicious software to steal your data or spy on you?
However, this may not be so dangerous, especially for popular applications like GB WhatsApp, as these applications have a large user base. Although they are not available on the Play Store, you can get them and install them on your phone via an APK file. It is also good to know that WhatsApp officially allows users to use modified applications, except in very rare cases where they ban users. We will also explain that in detail.
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Features of cloned WhatsApp applications
The most famous cloned WhatsApp application at the beginning was WhatsApp Plus, which came with many features. However, the main reason for its popularity back then was the ability to customize its appearance, which millions of users liked. Unfortunately, WhatsApp Plus did not last long because it did some actions that did not please WhatsApp, leading to the banning of all WhatsApp Plus users, which ended its popularity and lost the trust of users.
At that time, GB WhatsApp emerged, filling the gap caused by the ban on WhatsApp Plus. The application offered many useful features, including customizing the app’s appearance, hiding the blue tick, previewing images or videos without downloading, sending a message to 600 people at once, and sending up to 90 images in one push. Most importantly, it did not lead to user bans.
How are these applications developed?
Modified WhatsApp applications like GB WhatsApp or WhatsApp Plus rely on the features of the original WhatsApp application with the addition of many programming instructions to provide more useful features to users. But is this safe?
WhatsApp Plus used to do this by adding new features to the application through programming instructions. However, what led to its banning was that developers manipulated important codes in the application, which include data encryption methods or what is known as (WhatsApp core), the most important part of the WhatsApp application. Therefore, WhatsApp banned all accounts using the application immediately.
GBWhatsApp did not experience this issue as it was not banned, and you can use it without any problems. This may indicate the security of the application. However, it cannot be confirmed since the application is continuously being developed, and malicious codes may appear in it at any time.
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Is GBWhatsApp safe to use?
As we mentioned, the fact that users using GB WhatsApp are not banned indicates that the application does not violate the basic policies and terms of WhatsApp. However, this does not mean it is completely safe. Any modified application may not be secure, especially since these applications are completely free, which could compromise user data, among other things. Messaging applications, in general, require many permissions such as microphone, camera, storage, and other permissions.
Additionally, many developers exploit this to release malicious applications aimed at stealing user data or spying on them, like the Pink WhatsApp application that spread for a while, promising many amazing features but turned out to be a malicious virus designed to violate user privacy.
In summary, no one can confirm the safety of GB WhatsApp and modified WhatsApp applications for sure. While they are not banned by WhatsApp, they are cloned applications not found in the Play Store. Therefore, the decision to use these applications is relative to each user. Let us know in the comments if you think GB WhatsApp is safe or not and if you actually use it and what motivates you to do so.
