Due to the customization and additional functions offered by GB WhatsApp, it needs a variety of permissions to work properly, most of which are similar to that of the official WhatsApp app. GB WhatsApp at least seeks contacts, storage and camera permissions to provide its basic functions including messaging, sharing photos and videos and sending multimedia. This includes several features such as storage permissions which will help users in sending big files up to 50 MB, which is higher than the official WhatsApp limit of 16 MB.
The first permission is access to contacts list; this allows GB WhatsApp to synchronize your contact lists so you can start chatting instantly. While this permission might easily raise a privacy flag with its ability to allow the app continuing access to personal and professional organizational contacts. This makes some users uncomfortable because there is no official WhatsApp over GB WhatsApp. “Third-party apps do not hold your secrets securely the same way Facebook would,” says cybersecurity analyst Eva Galperin.
In addition to ordinary permissions, GB WhatsApp requests obtain access for system settings because of its capabilities inclusive of twin accounts and modified themes. Which enables you to draw other apps the GB Whats App unique themes and making it possible for you. Although this permission is enticing to the users that need customization, it could be a dangerous one — granting ability of UI modification which, in case of misuse, can produce malicious overlays or gain sensitive information from enduser. And this is significant, especially for users running Android 9 and later because overlays like these have been a big problem in phishing attacks.
Also, when you send location live location data is needed; it means we need access to the location and this thing too is mostly used under personal use as well as business. On contrary, the own use of data is clearly mentioned in WhatsApp terms of service while there are no detail privacy policies available to clarify GB WhatsApp about the location data use or saving. Forbes reports that some modified apps like GB WhatsApp leak extensive data as compared to the official version of these apps, which makes it a higher privacy risk.
Finally, in order to enable the app, users have to disable Play Protect — Google’s default security feature, which makes them more vulnerable to malware and spyware. By allowing GB WhatsApp to bypass Google’s security checks, disabling Play Protect gives the unofficial messaging app escalated privileges of access, and this is especially alarming because third party apps made up almost 30% of Android malware incidents in 2023.
Gb whatsapp also make required permission to users who are evaluation the risk of using gb whatsapp. Since these permissions are necessary for many of the most advanced features, they also put users at significant risk when it comes to data privacy as well — after all, there is no official security assurance or transparent data policy behind GB WhatsApp. This balance between customization and privacy comes when careful consideration is paid to the permissions that GB WhatsApp requests.