this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2025
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Privacy
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Okay, but they leaked my whole phone number, WhatsApp isn't my main focus now, I think I'll gonna have to switch phone number companies.
(btw I can't abandon whatsapp, my relatives are ignorant ogres who wont download even signal)
I wasn't suggesting they leaked only partial phone numbers?
Doesn't matter what phone company you have, Whatsapp already has your phone number and they allow anyone to scrape it.
But really there's so many different ways they can get your #. No way to stop that realistically. I change my phone # every year or so.
But as I said, it isn't only WhatsApp, my phone operator also happened to have a data leak and keep quiet about it.
My point is changing providers is a fruitless endeavour. Your phone number is probably sourced and sold several times/day. Switch carriers and they'll do the same thing. Why? Because no one will stop them, and most people don't know or even care, so why wouldn't they? And your phone number is already out there anyway, there's no taking it back.
Sooo, nothing we can do about it?
Yes and no. You can try and go without a phone number but I've found that to be literally impossible. Or you can change your phone # periodically, that's what I do.