News Brief: The WhatsApp Backchannel of the Ultra-Wealthy
Summary
Family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals are increasingly using WhatsApp as a primary tool for networking, deal vetting, and private communication, valuing its convenience and perceived privacy despite significant cybersecurity risks highlighted by experts.
Key Points
- One-Stop Shop: WhatsApp is used for everything from sourcing investments and verifying credentials to planning social events and even selling rare collectibles like dinosaur bones.
- Trust & Exclusivity: Large, private groups (some with nearly 1,000 members) allow members to quickly “sense-check” people and deals, helping to filter out scammers.
- Regulation Gap: Unlike major investment banks, family offices face fewer regulatory restrictions on using informal messaging apps for business.
- Cultural Necessity: It’s become essential for communicating with younger family heirs and peers who rarely use email.
- Perceived Privacy: Users value WhatsApp’s encryption and feel it lacks a “big brother” oversight compared to dedicated professional platforms.
- Major Security Warnings: Cybersecurity experts warn that WhatsApp lacks enterprise-grade security features: messages are stored on devices (a theft risk), metadata is tracked by Meta, and it’s difficult to control access after an employee leaves.
- Expert Advice: Advisors recommend against using WhatsApp for sensitive communications like wire transfer approvals, suggesting it be limited to non-critical networking.
新闻简报：超级富豪的WhatsApp幕后渠道
摘要
家族办公室和超高净值人士正越来越多地将WhatsApp用作社交、交易审查和私人通讯的主要工具，他们看重其便利性和感知上的隐私性，尽管专家强调了其中存在的重大网络安全风险。
关键点
- 一站式平台：WhatsApp被用于从寻找投资机会、核实资信到策划社交活动，甚至出售恐龙骨骼等稀有收藏品的方方面面。
- 信任与排他性：大型私密群组（有些近1000人）让成员可以快速”核实”人员和交易，有助于过滤诈骗者。
- 监管缺口：与大型投资银行不同，家族办公室在使用非正式通讯应用处理业务时面临的监管限制较少。
- 文化必需性：对于与很少使用电子邮件的年轻家族继承人和同行沟通，它已成为必备工具。
- 感知的隐私性：用户看重WhatsApp的加密功能，并认为与专用的专业平台相比，它缺乏”老大哥”式的监控。
- 重大安全警告：网络安全专家警告，WhatsApp缺乏企业级安全功能：信息存储在设备上（有被盗风险），元数据会被Meta追踪，且在员工离职后难以控制其访问权限。
- 专家建议：顾问建议不要使用WhatsApp进行电汇批准等敏感通信，建议将其限于非关键的网络社交活动。
Original Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/11/whatsapp-family-office.html