WhatsApp is now banning users of third-party apps - GBWhatsApp, WhatsApp Plus

WhatsApp has started clamping down on third-party variants of the WhatsApp messenger. WhatsApp is the biggest chat client in the world with over a billion downloads on the Google Play Store and well over 1.5 billion monthly users. 

Apps like GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus are the biggest culprits in the inquisition and are plainly named on WhatsApp’s website as being guilty. 

“Unsupported apps, such as WhatsApp Plus and GB WhatsApp, are altered versions of WhatsApp,” reads WhatsApp’s official website. “These unofficial apps are developed by third parties and violate our Terms of Service. WhatsApp doesn't support these third-party apps because we can't validate their security practices.”

While WhatsApp is the biggest messenger app in the world, it’s always felt a bit spartan, and third-party variants have become popular for the extra features they provide. Popular tricks and features on third-party apps include privacy mods like Freeze Last Seen, Hide Status Views, Save Status, One-way Read Receipts. Handy but not exactly appreciated by WhatsApp.

Users on third-party apps would do well to switch back to the official app or face the risk of getting hit by WhatsApp’s ban hammer.