WhatsApp is banning users for 24 hours and returning an error message informing them that they have violated its terms of service.
The messaging service has also posted the reason for the ban on its website's FAQ section. "WhatsApp Plus is an application that was not developed by WhatsApp, nor is it authorized by WhatsApp. The developers of WhatsApp Plus have no relationship to WhatsApp, and we do not support WhatsApp Plus. Please be aware that WhatsApp Plus contains source code which WhatsApp cannot guarantee as safe and that your private information is potentially being passed to 3rd parties without your knowledge or authorization. Please uninstall your application and install an authorized version of WhatsApp from our website or Google Play. Then, you will be able to use WhatsApp," it mentioned.
WhatsApp Plus offers some additional features including themes and ability to modify chat screens but is a privacy hazard as private messages of users go through a server not controlled or owned by WhatsApp. Some ill-informed online reports had mentioned that WhatsApp Plus was an upcoming version of WhatsApp following which a number of users had started using the app.
In November 2014, WhatsApp had added a new end-to-end encryption feature to its Android app with Open Whisper Systems, a San Francisco-based software group that developed the "TextSecure" programme, to protect users' conversations from unwanted surveillance and snooping. Using the third party app would have even bypassed this feature.
Meanwhile, screenshots of what appears to be WhatsApp's web client have surfaced online. The screenshots, posted on Google+, featured WhatsApp settings screen with a prompt to pair the app with a web browser and a trusted computer for secure connection. These screenshots were spotted by GSM Arena. WhatsApp's rivals including Viber and Line already offer a PC client.
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