What WhatsApp Users Need to Know about Google Drive Backups

Users of the Android version of WhatsApp will soon be able to back up their messages to their Google Drive without it counting toward their storage quota.

The service is free and is available starting Nov. 12, but there's a catch. If you back up your messages, they will no longer be protected by WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, ZDNet reports.

This isn't a hidden condition either. WhatsApp has explicitly stated it on its website:  "Media and messages you back up aren't protected by WhatsApp end-to-end encryption while in Google Drive."

Whether the backup option is worth the risk depends on each individual user, why they are using WhatsApp and why they would like to back up the chat files. 

This feature could be useful if you simply use WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends and family and don't want to lose those messages if your phone is lost or stolen. But if your reason for using WhatsApp includes the exchange of sensitive information, it might not be worth the risk.

If this service interests you, WhatsApp has provided a how-to guide to teach users what they need to know to back up their messages.