Appreciate the response. I looked in to signing up (WhatsApp Web). Apparently I need to re-enable the App on my phone first, I did that, it requires my phone number so so I guess I will have to pass.
WhatsApp was designed as mobile-first instant messenger. If you did not provide phone number to Facebook or Facebook Messenger then I understand your concern. I did buy additional pre-paid SIM card just for WhatsApp. Most of the time I don't even have that SIM in my dual-sim smartphone and still can use it. Most concerning thing is that it is very hard to use it without giving access/privilege to contacts.
use the below links in your browser on your phone to send a whatsapp message without saving number: https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone= or https://wa.me/ so, to send a whatsapp message to, say, (562)806-4631, you'll need to enter the phone number in the following format: https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=15628064631 or https://wa.me/15628064631
I mitigated access to all contacts by backing up contacts, erasing all of them, adding two selected contacts I wanted to message, gave access to contacts and sending messages. As you may guess then I disabled access to contacts and restored them from backup. Your solution is much simpler. Thanks. Anyway Web version is also handy for not giving access to storage. I can't view images without giving access to storage in an mobile app, but it works in web browser out of box...
you're welcome. mind you, the method i posted above redirects you to the app and your new conversation starts within the app, not on whatsapp web. this way, you can use whatsapp without giving it access to your contacts.
Yes, Facebook does not have my mobile number. All of these type of site I have joined don't. If they require one, I don't join. I also have a dual-sim phone, both pre-paid. As long as I keep a load on the SIM it stays good. Loads last one year, the SIM will expire 120 days after if no load is applied. I could buy a third SIM for this sort of thing. My problem is... I will forget to reload that unused third SIM card Most Apps have contact list as an Opt-In option. WhatsApp doesn't? WOW! My phone contacts list is completely different than that sort of list in these Apps. I want to keep it that way.
signal app blocked in china: https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...712830-8647-11eb-be4a-24b89f616f2c_story.html
Meanwhile WhatsApp desktop app have been enriched by video call feature, but only for one-to-one conversations. It works on Windows 10 1903 version and above. My friend confirmed this feature is missing on the same WhatsApp desktop app executed in Windows 8.1.
Posted for informational purposes only: https://signal.org/blog/cellebrite-vulnerabilities/ Though I'm not currently using a secure message app, this looks intriguing.
Ricochet was an interesting project, end-to-end encryption, decentralized and using Tor. It seemed dead for quite a while, but I discovered that another organization has forked it and continued development: https://github.com/blueprint-freespeech/ricochet-refresh
There is Telegram by Google (an icon with a white line around it) and the original installer by the developer (just a blue icon with the white symbol in the middle). It is basically like Chrome vs Chromium.
Well, me neither, till someone pointed out, that Google listens to it's own app. Just took a screenshot for a comparison.