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Advice on Using WhatsApp Safely with Dual SIM for Privacy (self.privacy)

submitted 3 months ago by Substance_P to c/privacy

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Hi all, I'm looking into ways to protect my privacy while using WhatsApp, particularly in a professional setting where separating personal and work-related communications is crucial. I'm thinking of buying a dual SIM phone and am considering strategies to sandbox my personal contacts, pictures, and media from those associated with my work profile on WhatsApp.

Has anyone successfully done this using two SIM cards on the same device? I'm staunchly anti-Facebook and its obtrusive privacy-related practices, so ideally I want to prevent cross-contamination of personal and work-related data, including contacts, photos, and media shared through the app. Will this be a good strategy? Are there any known risks or precautions I should take to minimize the risk of my data being shared or accessed by third parties? - Thanks all, I'd appreciate any comments.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I would guess using something like Insular and using it in a work profile.

https://f-droid.org/packages/com.oasisfeng.island.fdroid/

There is OpenContacts which has its own database specifically to keep things like WhatsApp out.

https://f-droid.org/packages/opencontacts.open.com.opencontacts/

[–] Substance_P 2 points 3 months ago

Thanks for the reply, aside from not getting much interest in this post I really appreciate the two open source apps you've suggested on Fdroid.

I use Island currently, but it's outdated now, and Shelter seems like the way to go. I also didn't know about the contacts app that you suggested, but I will check it out for sure. Cheers again.

[–] TechNerdWizard42 2 points 3 months ago

Welcome to the land of dual sim, my requirement since 2003. It's incredibly useful even if only professionally.

Up until earlier this year this was easy. Any sandboxing app like MultipleApps would load WhatsApp and then you'd have a clean break if you chose. But Zuck decided to block all non original instances, giving a warning for about 6 months that it wasn't supported and bad and lies about stealing your data, then just logged out and that was the end.

Now very few sandboxes work and in my experience it's only the root level ones that come with your device. From there you can block contacts or permissions for WhatsApp.

But I think you've got it backwards as you'll be the one with the mixed contacts. Your work colleagues won't have your personal number and your personal colleagues won't have your work number. And if they did, it would message two separate WhatsApp instances. They wouldn't see your other contacts, it's not like Outlook.

And in that case a free Google voice number on WhatsApp's second account in the same app, would work just fine for you. That's how I have 4 WhatsApp on my 1 device. 2 physical sims always on, plus google voice, and an esim. Each WhatsApp instance with a second account switch and then the second WhatsApp in my phone's sandbox.