WhatsApp bans WhatsApp PLUS users
WhatsApp Plus is shutting down. Google Plus announced that the service will shut down as a result of a cease and desist later received from Whatsapp…
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It’s a given fact that as something becomes more popular, there will be an endless number of “inspired” products that are eager to cash-in on said success story. There are any number of phones and clones. Apps are no different: a simple search for any random Twitter or Instagram user’s account will yield potentially dozens of “similar” services all of which try to make use of the original’s content. Popular texting/chatting omnibus program WhatsApp is no stranger to this, and the company is now taking action.
WhatsApp Plus users have recently been experiencing a 24-hour ban from the service, in no small part because WhatsApp Plus is in no way authorized or licensed by WhatsApp. Here’s the official word, straight from the horse’s mouth:
WhatsApp Plus is an application that was not developed by WhatsApp, nor is it authorized by WhatsApp. The developers of WhatsApp Plus have no relationship to WhatsApp, and we do not support WhatsApp Plus. Please be aware that WhatsApp Plus contains source code which WhatsApp cannot guarantee as safe and that your private information is potentially being passed to 3rd parties without your knowledge or authorization. Please uninstall your application and install an authorized version of WhatsApp from our website or Google Play. Then, you will be able to use WhatsApp.
Whatsapp Official Website (FAQs)
Given that the offending application requires side-loading to install (i.e. it’s not actually available on the Google Play Store), it might be safe to assume this issue isn’t affecting many users. It’s also hardly the only WhatsApp unofficial client for that matter, and indeed there are reports that other third-party app users have been experiencing trouble as well.
In many ways, WhatsApp’s warning about the unlicensed source code is a truly concerning one, and something that any person who goes around the “established” way need keep in mind: while some apps might offer extra features or content beyond the original product’s scope, few have the abilities needed to check for any kind of malicious programming embedded within it.
Source: WHATSAPP (FAQ)
