Here’s how people are using WhatsApp as a “search engine”

Nigel Gambanga Avatar
WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a great example of what users want in a mobile app. It’s easy to use, has a very clear value proposition as an instant message platform, is loaded with features for multimedia and group communication, and for 900 million users it has become one of the most convenient ways to communicate in a cheap, fast and effective way.

There are some people however, who have decided to look beyond all this and add more functionality to WhatsApp. A group from India created a WhatsApp bot which allows its users to access certain services ordinarily accessible on the internet only and not through WhatsApp.

Through the bot users can search for content on Wikipedia, access some news articles and even engage in simple mobile quizzes. To access the bot users need to save any one of a list of specific phone numbers and add this number to a new or existing WhatsApp group.

Wiki-WhatsApp-botAfter that services are accessed by typing specific commands as ordinary messages on group chat. For example Wikipedia searches can be prompted by typing Wiki followed by the search item, and sports news is available by typing certain reference numbers.

You can get a more detailed account on how to use the bot’s features in this article.

The good, the bad, the ugly

There’s a lot to be excited about with this service. Users are being offered additional access to the internet through an Instant Messaging platform.

Features like Wikipedia searches will definitely amuse members of any group and access to information through news updates feels like a bonus for anyone accustomed to exiting WhatsApp and clicking on a web browser or a second and third app.

The real victory is in minimising broadband use, something that Zimbabweans who use WhatsApp bundles to avoid the high cost of data will immediately appreciate. The bot becomes one workaround placed in another and WhatsApp becomes more than what it is.

However, there’s more to this bot. One important thing to note is how this is one good example of spam bots. These are tools created for mass distribution of news and information which is inherently spam.

Users of public platforms and chatrooms and groups will have likely encountered the odd, unidentified member who regularly posts information that has little to no relevance to the group.

Since the WhatsApp bot was designed in India some of the news and information is for the Indian market, but it doesn’t end there. Your group will receive a deluge of information that will probably seem incoherent, something that ll spam is.

The ugly side to this is that WhatsApp bots are also regular tools for phishing, something that will expose users to additional cyber risks which are definitely not worth the free Wikipedia or Ballon d’Or updates.

If you choose to use and keep the WhatsApp bot even after experiencing some challenges with it like having to change the number after it stops working just remember there’s always a price attached to something free.

68 comments

  1. Samir khan

    My sweet friends my no.9038635864

    1. Anonymous

      Plese can some one give mi dy number to add to my grup i mean the wiki search engin on whattsapp

      1. Anonymous

        9037187639

      2. Anas

        7736720029

      3. Musthu

        9544632080

      4. Anas ceety

        2348065999289

      5. Anonymous

        9841228380

  2. jacky

    Jacky

  3. Lee Masuka

    This is a clever way of capturing thebdatabase of phone numbers in the world. Who knows if they are also sniffing and tracing conversations in our groups. This is a bit risky and should be blocked by Zuckerberg and his whatsapp team. In your whats app groups, Admins are tempted to add the so called wiki number. Besides capturing words like wiki and giving you answers, who knows if the system is also capturing words like, ‘Al qaeda’, ‘CIA’, etc and reporting numbers of whatsapp users and what the users are interested in.

  4. $

    These guys are clearly collecting information from people while pretending to be useful. The funny thing is people do not think their information is of any value.

  5. Prosper

    Yah very useful… looking for a Google one

  6. Rupi Singh

    Yeah Much GreatFull Free Recharge Tricks

  7. Sam

    Thankxx for providing us such a service whatsapp….if wiki was a hacker….its can just access to someones no. that’s all…what any member of that group can do….:)

  8. prashanr

    this is a very powerful invention…. but i dont know hoe to use it.. also i dont know the different tags/commands can any one help me.?

  9. sagarsagar soni

    My no 9714514344

  10. JAMES YISA

    wiki number is +919445942189

    1. Nelson Mujere

      this one really works

  11. JAMES YISA

    wiki number i use here in Nigeria is +919445942189 i dont know if its different for
    other countries

  12. Rohit

    My no is 9869820575. Please add me to

  13. Anonymous

    Mine is +919043735971

  14. afiq

    how to know ur wiki bot number?

  15. Anas ceety

    my no.±2348065999289

  16. eric

    U can’t use the number without group?

  17. Christianus

    My No. +60198719567

  18. Christianus

    +60198719657

  19. Jibreel Ibraheem

    08086585890

  20. Feelz

    +60143575703

  21. TechGuru

    Its not official from whats app team,,, it could be used for hacking information.. avoid it till its confirm from Whatsapp Or Wiki pedia officially.

  22. patreck

    join a group

  23. Shaheer

    Guyz…

    +1(226)319-1209

    Accessing Wikipedia via Whatsapp.
    1. Save the above shared contact as Wikipedia to your phone.

    2. Create a Group with any Groupname and add this contact (wikipedia) only. You are already another contact by default: so wikipedia and you (only 2 members) become the members.

    3. Now you post in that group, anything textual to search in Wikipedia starting text with “wiki”.
    Eg:if you want something to know about “SBI” (State Bank of India)…
    You must type: wiki SBI.
    (WIKI SBI)

    4. Wikipedia replies you in the group automatically.

    1. Shaheer

      [As Received only]

    2. Balesh

      Thanku shaheer bro

  24. sameer Parab

    my no. 7276299071

  25. Auwal

    My no 08107881788

  26. yentunde

    pls add me up at ur group +2348140528272

  27. suraj

    my namber is +918460094000 plz…add group

  28. suraj

    plz…add my namber +918460094000
    group

  29. James Omandi

    254 716709719 is my number add me to your group please

  30. Muhideen

    please add me to the group..
    +233576100596

  31. Anonymous

    Sunil 9967436577

  32. Anonymous

    The wiki just abruptly. Anybody with another functioning number

  33. Usman

    I need your add me whatsapp group of wiki. Please u should kindly me the really…..mine 08060437613

  34. Deepanshu

    9557788927

  35. Deepanshu

    Add me

  36. Raju

    My No. Is 9814682619 Add me plz

  37. Sebola Isaac Thapolo

    I have someone but i want another plz am sebola Isaac Izzylicious add me thats MY NO:0628405319

  38. jhon

    hi plz add me in whatsaap group plz

  39. jhon

    +923312312288

  40. Elisha

    +2347062953271

  41. Anand

    My no 7356461566

  42. richard

    add me my no +255676779130

  43. fausta nakkazi

    Mi no+256704380128add me bt private

    1. fausta nakkazi

      Hellow whatsapp me i need guy

  44. Anonymous

    07036235250

  45. anand yadav

    My no. Is 9170801362

  46. damilex

    add me 08131322859

  47. yogesh rock

    Please ad 8602368931

  48. yogesh rock

    Please add me 8602368931

  49. Rychards

    Add me 07056532601

  50. Anonymous

    Add me 08144604188

  51. Elisha

    Can some send Me wiki number am in Kenya my number is ±254715387784

  52. krunal

    Can someone send me wiki’s no
    I am in Gujarat,India
    My no. +919428655552

  53. skmono

    Mono

  54. Anonymous

    Add me
    +971501800811

  55. kay

    pls non of these numbers are working, I mean wiki…have they blocked all?..pls I need responses am mailing from Nigeria….u can as well give me any one you think is,working..
    dis is my number: +2348030463195
    you can text to that mobile number please

  56. kay

    pls non of these numbers are working, I mean wiki…have they blocked all?..pls I need responses am mailing from Nigeria….u can as well give me any one you think is,working..
    dis is my number: +2347030463195
    you can text to that mobile number please

  57. Min_kay

    please is +2347030463195
    and not +2348030463195

    was a mistake

  58. Min_kay

    please I need the wiki contact that is working now…as I await for someone to help me with that….just send it to my number above….

    from min_kay. or Facebook at Johnson Kanayo c….or rather whatsapp me on +2347030463195

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