Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has rolled out new audio and video calling features for all users, but a privacy issue has come to light.
By default, anyone who follows you can call you and see your IP address during the call.
How to Protect Your Privacy on X Calls
An IP address reveals your location on the internet and can be used for malicious purposes like spam, identity theft, and even real-world tracking.
This poses a significant risk for users like activists who rely on anonymity online.
One of the most alarming aspects of IP addresses is their potential for exploitation by malicious actors. In the wrong hands, this information can be used for a myriad of nefarious purposes, ranging from spam and phishing attacks to identity theft and even real-world tracking. Imagine receiving unsolicited emails or messages containing malicious links, all tailored to exploit personal information gleaned from your IP address.
Such scenarios are not merely hypothetical; they are unfortunate realities faced by countless internet users worldwide.
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Strategies Against Unwanted Calls and IP Address Privacy
If you’re concerned about unwanted calls or want to hide your IP address, here’s how to adjust your settings on the X mobile app:
- Navigate to Direct Message Settings:
- Tap your profile picture in the top left corner of the X app.
- Select “Settings and Support” followed by “Settings and privacy.”
- Choose “Privacy and safety” from the menu and scroll down to “Direct messages.”
- Limit Who Sees Your IP Address:
- Under “Direct messages,” find the “Enhanced call privacy” option and toggle it on. This prevents your IP address from being revealed during calls.
- Control Who Can Call You:
- In the same menu, you can restrict who can initiate calls. Options include allowing calls only from people in your address book.
- Disable Calls Entirely:
- To completely block audio and video calls, toggle off the “Enable audio and video calling” option within “Direct messages.”
These privacy settings are currently only available on the X mobile app. There’s no option to disable calling features or control IP visibility on the web version yet. X hasn’t responded to requests for comment on this issue.
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