If you use WhatsApp on Android then you might be wise to dig into the settings and make a very simple change. It appears that this popular messaging platform, which is used by billions across the globe, is suffering from a bug that basically allows the app to listen to users even when the service is closed on a phone.
It’s a worrying issue that was first spotted by Twitter engineer, Foad Dabiri. He posted a picture on social media showing WhatsApp activity while sleeping.
“WhatsApp has been using the microphone in the background, while I was asleep and since I woke up at 6AM (and that's just a part of the timeline!) What's going on?,” Dabiri tweeted.
WhatsApp has since responded to the message with the messaging service saying, “Over the last 24 hours we’ve been in touch with a Twitter engineer who posted an issue with his Pixel phone and WhatsApp.
“We believe this is a bug on Android that mis-attributes information in their Privacy Dashboard and have asked Google to investigate and remediate.”
No doubt things will be fixed fast but until then it might be an idea to turn off automatic mic access for this app.
To switch things off simply follow these steps…
• Open your phone's 'Settings' app
• Scroll down and tap 'Privacy'
•Open 'Permission manager'
• Scroll down to 'Microphone' and tap it, then look for 'WhatsApp'
• You should see a new screen which says 'Microphone access for this app' with three options: 'Allow only while using the app', 'Ask every time', and 'Don't allow'.
• Select 'Ask every time' or 'Don't allow', but bear in mind that clicking 'Don't allow' will prevent you from sending voice notes and making calls.
Foad Dabiri was using a Pixel device when he spotted the glitch and there’s no current word on whether the issue affects only these Google-made devices or other phones powered by Android.
Until more advice is issued it might be worth switching things off until WhatsApp and Google come up with a fix.
