Disable Automatic Downloads on WhatsApp

Andy Voß

February 10, 2026, 12:26 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

A serious security vulnerability in WhatsApp was recently discovered. Attackers spread malware in groups, causing significant damage. A particular feature played a central role. That’s why we’re telling you how to disable automatic downloads in WhatsApp.

Malware in WhatsApp via Automatic Downloads

As Malwarebytes reports and Google’s Project Zero discovered, attackers specifically added their victims to WhatsApp groups. They then sent a malicious file in the group chat. Due to WhatsApp’s automatic downloads, this file was automatically downloaded to the smartphone. The issue primarily affected Android smartphones.

No prompt or warning appeared. The malware was already on the device without the owner’s active consent. The only requirement for the attack was knowing the victim’s phone number.

To activate the malware, another step was necessary, such as opening the file. Reports suggest psychological tricks, like a phone call, were also conceivable to prompt users.

Urgent Warning! WhatsApp Is Now Becoming a Malware Trap Here

Hackers are currently targeting Microsoft Office—a serious security flaw is allowing the spread of malware.

Protection Only After Update Hackers Exploit Zero-Day Vulnerability in Microsoft Office for Attacks

Current Status of the Security Vulnerability

Meta had already released an update intended to close the vulnerability. Google initially rated this patch as incomplete. However, there is now a comprehensive fix. Users should not rely solely on updates but also take additional protective measures.

These Measures You Should Take for Protection

Disable Auto-Download in WhatsApp

Open WhatsApp
Go to Settings
Tap on “Storage and Data”
Under “Media Auto-Download,” uncheck all data types (on iOS: set all file types to “Never”)

Note: This setting also prevents images and videos from direct chats from being automatically saved on the device.

Prevent WhatsApp from Adding Data to the Gallery

Open WhatsApp settings
Tap on “Chats”
Turn off the “Media Visibility” option (on iOS: turn off “Save to Photos”)

WhatsApp will continue to download certain data. However, it will no longer be automatically added to the gallery or shared with cloud services.

Restrict Who Can Add You to Groups

Tap on “Privacy” in WhatsApp settings
Select “Groups”
Determine who can send group invitations
Instead of the default “Everyone,” choose “My Contacts” or “My Contacts Except…”
Mark contacts that are not trusted

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.