But a lot of his traction seems to have come from the misuse of WhatsApp to spread untrue statements about his opponent, Fernando Haddad, and as a result, the thousands of Brazilian WhatsApp users have seen their accounts cancelled.
What’s Up with WhatsApp in Brazil?
In the lead-up to the October 2018 election, WhatsApp blocked hundreds of thousands of WhatsApp accounts that it claimed had been part of the fake news and other “political shenanigans.” Of course many accounts in that big number belong to private citizens using WhatsApp for everything from ordering pizza to paying their bills to keeping in touch with family. Because of the massive sweep committed by WhatsApp, they are now cut off from doing routine things and contacting friends and family as they had for years prior. The sheer amount of people using WhatsApp who suddenly found themselves cut off from it is akin to suddenly having one’s car disappear or the index finger of your dominant hand lopped off. WhatsApp has become so popular a tool in Brazil that many people simply can’t imagine life without it.
Getting Back on WhatsApp in Brazil
In general, using public WiFi isn’t a good idea anyway, even for a messenger system famous for its end-to-end encryption. Other than moving, the best bet on getting a new IP address is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN can mask a blocked IP address by using one from another part of Brazil or another part of the world. You don’t have to use the same server on the VPN each time you log on to WhatsApp, just make sure it’s not the IP address that got banned in 2018.
Alternatives to WhatsApp
The fact that WhatsApp has been bought by Facebook has turned lots of people off to its service based on Facebook’s increasing notoriety for collecting personal data from its users without permission and sharing that data with third parties, again without explicit user permission at times. Here are a few alternatives to consider if you want to get away from WhatsApp altogether:
1 Wire
2 KIK Messenger
3 Wickr Me
Best VPNs for WhatsApp in Brazil
1PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is fantastic for consumers stressing security. It has a strict no-logs policy and powerful 2048-bit encryption, along with built-in leak protection and an automatic kill switch. Get it Now
2ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has proven time and again to be the fastest VPN on the planet and its security is nearly as intense. It has servers in 94 countries with incredible download/upload speeds across the planet. Its security functions include compatibility with multiple encryption types including OpenVPN. Try Now Risk Free
3NordVPN
NordVPN is a stalware of the industry with more than 4,400 servers stretched across more than 60 countries. It has a kill switch and IP leak protection among its many security functions, along with 24/7 customer support available around the world. Get it Now
