Mobile numbers of WhatsApp on Web users found on Google Search

As WhatsApp faces intense scrutiny over its upcoming data and privacy policy in India and elsewhere another user data violation has been reported this time on the WhatsApp on Desktop Web application allegedly exposing personal mobile numbers via indexing on Google SearchAlthough WhatsApp is primarily a mobile app currently being used by over 400 million users in India some working professionals also use the instant chat app on their desktops and PCs via the Web versionIndependent cybersecurity researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia on Friday shared some screenshots with IANS showing indexing of personal mobile numbers of WhatsApp users via Web version on Google SearchThe leak is happening via WhatsApp on Web If someone is using WhatsApp on laptop or on an office PC the mobile numbers are being indexed on Google Search These are mobile numbers of individual users not business numbers Rajaharia told IANSEarlier this week concerned at private group chat links being available on Google Search WhatsApp said that it had asked Google not to index such chats and advised users not to share group chat links on publicly accessible websitesGoogle had indexed invite links to private WhatsApp group chats meaning anyone can join various private chat groups with a simple search The indexed WhatsApp group chat links have now been removed from GoogleDespite WhatsApp advising users and telling Google to remove the earlier exposed group chat links the mobile numbers via WhatsApp Web application are now being indexed on Google Search Rajaharia notedA WhatsApp spokesperson said in an earlier statement that since March 2020 WhatsApp has included the noindex tag on all deep link pages which according to Google will exclude them from indexingWe have given our feedback to Google to not index these chats Links that users wish to share privately with people they know and trust should not be posted on a publicly accessible website the company spokesperson saidThe issue was first cropped up in February last year when app reverseengineer Jane Wong found that Google has around 470000 results for a simple search of chatwhatsappcom part of the URL that makes up invites to WhatsApp groupsAccording to Rajaharia the latest leak of personal mobile numbers via WhatsApp on Web has not been addressed so far by the either Facebookowned platform or GoogleThe revelation comes at a time when WhatsApp is changing its privacy policy and users will have to agree and accept if they plan to keep using the app postFebruary 8On Friday a single judge bench of the Delhi High Court recused from hearing a petition against the WhatsApps upcoming data and privacy policy on the grounds that it violates the right to privacy of citizens of IndiaThe plea will now be listed before another bench and would come up for hearing on January 18This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever