Instant messenger applications have long been the darling of the smartphone world. The eventual replacement they provided for old-school text and MMS messaging has bolstered communication globally. This has given rise to better communication protocols and methods. Not to mention the plethora of features that they brought along as well.
While Blackberry’s BBM service is the earliest adoption of true wireless and instant chatting platform, WhatsApp quickly rose to prominence when smartphones gained traction. And then just as quickly replaced all major forms of communication. Facebook’s acquisition of the chatting platform in 2014 only cemented its dominance as the most widely-used instant messenger globally. Today, WhatsApp boasts nearly 2 million monthly users, beating out Facebook’s own Messenger app.
The WhatsApp niggle
Even before Facebook acquired WhatsApp, the application was marred with controversy. Privacy breaches and data leaks had long been an increasingly difficult problem for the company to solve. Its eventual sale was dubbed controversial as well. Despite selling it for $19 billion to Facebook, WhatsApp has not only retained its status as the most popular instant messenger but extended its reach to newer territories too. With such a large user base, there were going to be problems.
Facebook has long been in hot water when privacy and security debates rage on. Its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has been invited into Congressional hearings on more than one occasion. And each time, his software enterprise takes a big hit in the eye of the public. Facebook is now synonymous with shady privacy practices and an open-handed approach to user data. These user worries extend to WhatsApp, too, which its parent company attempted to rectify with end-to-end encryption. But this wasn’t enough to sideline much of its data safety woes. WhatsApp was close to having 2 billion accounts released on the internet due to security flaws in its Android and iOS app in 2017 alone.
But while technical and software issues have existed from the beginning, the problem with the ownership of data doesn’t seem to be sitting well with WhatsApp’s user base either. As mentioned before, most people have a general sense of distrust of Facebook. And with it owning WhatsApp, Instagram, and Oculus, the issue of data protection has never been this intensely debated. It is especially true with users from the current generation and millennials.
More and more people are now shifting to a minimal lifestyle, and the concept of digital minimalism is finding its feet too. Digital minimalism is the idea to detach oneself from online platforms and social media for a more present and aware lifestyle. Ditching alternative instant messengers is a part of it.
Moreover, the simple fact that WhatsApp now includes features similar to social media applications has been a worry for most parents. Stories and vanishing messages were relegated for the Snapchats and Instagrams of the world, but its integration into WhatsApp has meant parents are required to be wary of what their children are exposed to daily. It means that all anyone needs to expose your children to profanity, nudity, or other dangers is their phone number. And they can do this without leaving a trace. Children could be unknowingly displaying their lives or doxing themselves to strangers who have their phone numbers.
Taking back control?
There isn’t a lot of control that regular people outside of WhatsApp’s upper echelons can exercise on the app and its behavior. But there are always alternatives to switch to. Especially in the ‘there’s an app for everything’ era that we live in today.
Earlier in 2021, when Facebook rolled out an update on its privacy policy for WhatsApp, alternative messaging apps saw an influx in downloads. The privacy policy specifically talked about sharing user data with its other companies for better-targeted ads. It caused a flurry of outrage, and people started opting for Signal and Telegram as viable alternatives. And even though Facebook responded to the concerns, the damage was done. Users in the tune of 25 million shifted to Telegram alone!
What’s more, the idea of controlling instant messaging chats hasn’t been lost on other app manufacturers. Certain phone tracking apps geared towards business owners and parents allow them to monitor WhatsApp messages remotely. These applications have long been in development and with real-world usage too.
Why monitoring apps?
Monitoring apps have long been the darling of two prominent userbases: parents and employers. Since as early as 2000, when the digitalization movement was gaining momentum, parents the world over have been concerned over what their children are exposed to, or could be exposed to. In 2021, these concerns have exacerbated exponentially.
With cybercrime being one of the most widespread and common nuisances in the world, taking back control on a personal level makes sense. This includes all the security and data theft that occurs in large-scale enterprises to child grooming, perversion, and child trafficking in major and small cities.
Children, for instance, are most susceptible to encountering sex offenders online due to the vast numbers they are in and how they’ve infiltrated their way onto popular apps and games. It rings true for WhatsApp as well. All you require is a phone number to gain access to the person’s profile and any stories they may post. And with disappearing messages and one-time-view pictures a part of the chatting app, the picture becomes bleaker. Children are exposed to all sorts of inappropriate content and people on WhatsApp, and with its social media-like features, the possibility only increases. And with it, the concerns of their parents.
Similarly, WhatsApp is one of the most popular chatting applications, making it the primary communication service for most professionals. And with its privacy-focused features, it can be especially tricky for employers and business executives to get to the bottom of cybercrime that is victimizing their company. Trade secrets, business details, client information, and a lot more are a few taps away from leaking at all times.
The apps that help
While there are plenty of options available for parents and employers alike on how to track WhatsApp chats, we’ll focus on the three that work best. These are excellent options to consider if your primary concern is WhatsApp or any other instant messaging app.
1. Xnspy
Xnspy is a device monitoring tool that’s available for Android and iOS devices. It can be installed on phones and tablets and its feature-to-price ratio is unbeatable. Prices start at $4.99/month and $7.49/month for its basic and premium plans respectively. The application is a great option for parents and employers alike. Xnspy allows for complete reporting on social media, instant messaging, and dating apps, and can even geolocate the targeted device at will.
Xnspy is perhaps the most reliable option when it comes to tracking WhatsApp data remotely. The application features a robust dashboard that allows its users to view precise information on a whim. With Xnspy’s features for viewing multimedia built-in, users also have the option to see what pictures and videos were sent via WhatsApp.
Monitoring WhatsApp with Xnspy
To monitor WhatsApp messages remotely on Android, you will need to install XNSPY on the target Android cell phone or tablet. While this is an important step, it doesn’t take long to complete.
How to monitor WhatsApp on iOS (Jailbreak)?
Using Xnspy to track WhatsApp use on iOS devices is similar to Android. You would be required to install the app. But since the app isn’t available in the Apple app store, and sideloading isn’t possible, jailbreaking is the best alternative. Jailbreaking an iPhone allows users to effortlessly sideload apps that aren’t available through the official app stores. If you have a jailbroken target device, sideload the Xnspy app on it.
Once the application is installed, sign in to your Xnspy dashboard online. You are provided with the credentials to your Xnspy account when you purchase a plan from the Xnspy website.
When you’re logged in, click on the “Messenger” tab to reveal a drop-down menu and choose “WhatsApp” from there. A new screen would populate all the WhatsApp data from the target phone. This data includes the chats with the sender’s name, date, and exact time stamps. All the conversations that have been conducted with a sender can be accessed from here.
How to monitor WhatsApp on iOS (iCloud)?
Jailbreaking isn’t for everyone, especially in this day and age. Not only do you lose the warranty of your device, but you also risk getting malware and viruses onto them. Xnspy has a no-jailbreak spy solution for people who are hesitant to tinker with their phones and doesn’t need you to download or install any app. All you need are the iCloud credentials of the person whom you wish to monitor.
Once you have the iCloud credentials of the person you wish to spy on, all the WhatsApp chat data is available in the same dashboard as before. The method is similar too, and so is the information presented to users.
2. Flexispy
Flexispy is another application that performs somewhat similarly to Xnspy. Most of the features between the two are the same and so is the level of control they afford. Flexispy allows for video and audio access to the device whereas its counterpart doesn’t. Flexispy starts from $68/month.
Flexispy’s WhatsApp monitoring tool also works through its dashboard system. Data is collected from the device you want to be notified on and then backed up into the company’s servers. From here, users can view WhatsApp chats, with their timestamps, sender’s name, and the message that was sent. In essence, Xnspy and Flexispy perform very similarly, and their differences are down to the costs for the apps, and other extended features the two may or may not offer.
3. Highster Mobile
Highster Mobile is another spying app for kids and employee monitoring that also supports WhatsApp. It offers a one-time payment method that unlocks all of its features coming at $69.99. Compared to the aforementioned two, Highster Mobile is the most expensive on the list but it gets the job done just as well.
The only gripe we have with the company is that it does not feature tutorials on tracking WhatsApp on its website. Xnspy has the most resources available for novice users, followed by Flexispy. With Highster Mobile, there is a lot of guesswork involved.
There are plenty of remote monitoring apps in the market that supports WhatsApp tracking. Visit this page for an in-depth assessment of the top 10 Whatsapp tracking apps of 2022.
