WhatsApp Tracker Explained for Safe Online Use
Looking up “WhatsApp tracker”? Learn how to control legal options, identify tracking, protect your account, and optimal privacy practices. Full Guide here.
Introduction
When people are typing in the term WhatsApp tracker. They are likely to be going after one of the following goals:
Parents want to control the use of devices among children. Employers would prefer controlled access to managed devices on company phones (with permission). Users fear they are being followed or monitored and need to identify and eliminate trackers.
This guide provides legal, ethical alternatives that can be used to track the WhatsApp usage (with permission).
1. What a “WhatsApp tracker” often refers to
Activity/status viewers: People that want to know of the time when a particular person was last online or whether the person is online or not.
Read-receipt tracking: Message read status (blue ticks).
Third party applications: or services which purport to display.
Tracking of devices/places: The applications that monitor the location of the phone – not WhatsApp. And must be agreed to by the user or blocked at the device level.
Notable: Looking for a way to access the account belonging to another person, intercept the message or monitor the location. Without their permission, is unlawful in most countries, as well as against the Terms of Use of WhatsApp.
2. Legal & ethical tracking options (use only with consent)
A. Parental control apps (for minors)
- Parents worry about the safety of a child. They should use trusted parental control software which they install and set up with ownership/consent:
- Examples Google family link (Android), Apple screen time (iOS) and third party parental control suites.
- These applications give you the ability to track your screen time, app usage, impose restrictions and limits and in certain instances.
B. Mobile Device Management (MDM) for businesses
- Using MDM solutions (when it comes to company-owned phones used by employees). Companies may operate company-owned devices with well-defined policies and consent:
- MDM is able to impose the app installation, security policies and personal/business data separation.
- Apply MDM only to company-owned devices and report policies of monitoring in writing.
C. WhatsApp Business & Multi-device tools (for teams)
To social media/comms teams that run a brand account:
- WhatsApp Business API and third-party helpdesk applications (official partners) allow various verified agents to answer customer messages in a good way without spying on personal accounts.
- These applications need to be set up by the account owners and adhere to the WhatsApp regulations.
D. Built-in WhatsApp visibility controls (no third-party needed)
- The Last Seen or Online of a contact can only be viewed. When not hidden and it is not prohibited by your privacy settings.
- Read receipts: It can be turned off/on in Settings Account Privacy. (Note: You can also turn off read receipts which also disables your read receipts of the other users.)
3. How to detect if someone is spying on or tracking your WhatsApp or phone
If you suspect malicious tracking, check:
Linked Devices: Open WhatsApp/Menu (three dots) Linked devices. Signing them out.
Instagram/WhatsApp has changed email/phone messages: Watch out for emails about changed email or phone in Instagram/WhatsApp.
Checks at device and systems-level.
Abnormal battery drainage or overheating: It may be a sign of a spyware.
Abnormal spikes in data usage: Network Settings Data usage to identify abnormal uploads.
Unknown apps: Search through apps that are installed: Search installed apps that are not familiar to you.
Android apps : Settings: Security: Device administrators — uninstall suspicious ones.
iOS Profiles & management: General VPN and Device management — delete any unknown profiles.
Other signs
- Messages received by contacts that were sent not by you.
- Slowed performance of the device following the installation of an app.
- Transfer of the necessary data, and the possibility of a factory reset after backing up and copying backups and credentials.
4. Steps to remove tracking & secure your WhatsApp
- Sign out of devices you are not sure about WhatsApp → Linked devices → Sign out all devices.
- Change WhatsApp password / device PIN / screen lock and use more powerful locks (PIN, fingerprint).
- WhatsApp Two-step Verification: Settings: Account: Two-step verification.
- Install apps on check and delete suspicious apps.
- Install new OS and applications to receive the newest security patches.
- It is better to use official apps stores (Google Play, Apple App Store).
Assuming you are the fall prey of intense spying, report it to local law enforcement or a cybersecurity expert.
6. Privacy best practices to avoid being tracked
- Do not tell verification codes to anybody.
- WhatsApp Two-step verification and powerful device unlock.
- Restrict application privileges/ permissions — only enable camera, microphone, location, contacts when needed.
- Periodically check Linked Devices and logged in sessions.
- Maintain systems and applications in use.
- Do not open suspicious links on WhatsApp that you receive, they might take you to a page where credential-stealing services work.
- Official backups (Google Drive / iCloud) are fine to use, but very strong passwords with 2FA should be used to protect these accounts.
- The employers should comply with local labor and data protection and inform the employees of monitoring policies.
7. Ethical considerations & the law
- It is illegal to spy on a person and get into their private messages or location without their consent in most locations.
- Even the good parents are advised to strike a balance between the safety of a child and the right to privacy. Open communication is usually more helpful than the backdoor surveillance.
8. Alternatives to spying — build trust and safety
Honest discussions with family or employees on the safety of the internet.
Existence of limits and online regulations among minors (screen time, content regulation).
Communication within the team should be done with shared accounts or official business tools as opposed to using personal accounts.
Educational materials: educate children to identify phishing, fraudsters, and bad privacy habits.
Conclusion
WhatsApp tracker searchers can desire the mere activity viewing to an intrusion of spying. Pay attention to legal, ethical instruments, parental controls, MDM on company phones, and WhatsApp in-built features and concentrate on privacy and consent. When you feel that you are being tracked maliciously, take prompt action: delete unfamiliar sessions and secure your device and even consult the professionals in case of need.
