In conditions of war, Ukrainians are facing an increase in cyber threats, which requires increased attention to the protection of personal data and the security of communication.
Viber offers a number of features that will help users ensure the confidentiality of their messages and accounts.
All chats in Viber are automatically protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that messages are encrypted on the sender's device and decrypted only on the recipient's device. No one, including Viber employees, can intercept or read them. This protection also extends to voice calls.
You can add an extra layer of protection. During setup, you must specify an email address and create a PIN. This prevents attackers from accessing your account even if you lose your phone.
How to enable:
- Open Settings → Privacy → Two-Step Verification.
If there is a risk that your phone will fall into the wrong hands, you can hide important correspondence by protecting it with a PIN. This will make chats inaccessible even when your device is unlocked.
How to enable:
- On Android: Open a chat → “Chat info” → “Hide this contact”.
- On iOS: Tap the chat name → “Hide this contact”.
To avoid spam, you can set up group invitations to only come from people in your contacts list. This will increase the comfort and security of using the messenger.
How to set it up:
- Go to “Settings” → “Privacy” → “Add to groups settings”.
Disappearing messages allow you to delete messages after a specified time (10 seconds, 1 minute, 1 hour). On Android, the recipient will not be able to take a screenshot, and on iOS, the sender will receive a notification about the attempt to take a screenshot.
How to enable:
- Click the clock icon in a 1-on-1 chat and select a timer.
For increased privacy, you can hide your profile picture from users who are not in your contact list. You can also hide your last seen time and “Online” status.