How safe is whatsapp video chat
WhatsApp Video Call- How Safe It Is in 2023?
WhatsApp Video Call- How Safe It Is in 2023? | Cashify BlogWhatsApp video call has undoubtedly brought us closer to our friends and family. With over 2 billion global users, the platform is used for texting, calling, sharing media, documents and more. While the app is known for its instant service, one question that bothers users is how safe the video call option is. And you…2023-02-23 04:01:422023-02-23 04:01:42WhatsApp Video Call- How Safe It Is in 2023?cashify
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Dive deeper into this article to know should you be doing WhatsApp video call in 2023 or not. We have talked in detail about privacy and security here.
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By Surbhi Verma -
Updated: 23rd Feb 2023, 04:01 IST
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Table Of Contents
1
Which Data is Collected by WhatsApp?
2
How Safe is WhatsApp Video Call?
3
What is meant by End-to-end encryption?
4
How to enable end-to-end encrypted backup?
5
How to stay safe on WhatsApp?
6
Final Thoughts: Is WhatsApp Video Call Safe?
WhatsApp video call has undoubtedly brought us closer to our friends and family. With over 2 billion global users, the platform is used for texting, calling, sharing media, documents and more.
While the app is known for its instant service, one question that bothers users is how safe the video call option is.
And you must be aware that WhatsApp data privacy has been a hot topic for a long now. Well, we will talk about the same in this article. So stay tuned and read till the end to know about the security and safety of WhatsApp video call.
Also Read: WhatsApp Group Features – Here’s All That You Need To Know
Which Data is Collected by WhatsApp?
Before we move ahead, let us first see which data is gathered by WhatsApp.
- Name present on your account
- Your current WhatsApp profile picture
- Device that you are using
- Your last active status on WhatsApp
- Your contact details including individual and group contacts
- The groups that you are a part of on WhatsApp
- IP address
- Device build number
- Your WhatsApp about and Story shared
Also Read: 50+ Best WhatsApp About Quotes To Suit All Mood
How Safe is WhatsApp Video Call?
WhatsApp video call is fast but is it secure? Well, just like messages, WhatsApp calls are also end-to-end encrypted.
And when you make a call with WhatsApp, you can see “end-to-end encrypted” text on the top. This makes it difficult for the hackers to get through the calls and the information remains just between you and the person whom you have called.
However, WhatsApp can retain your data but it remains just with the app. So, in a way, the calls made through WhatsApp are safe. But you must keep in mind that the person on the other end can do screen recording or take screenshots, so always be careful what you are doing on calls or with whom you are doing the WhatsApp video call.
What is meant by End-to-end encryption?
When using WhatsApp, you would have seen the text “Your messages or end-to-end encrypted” and the same “end-to-end encrypted” text appears on the call screen too. So, what does it mean? Well, end-to-end encryption means the information remains just between you and the other person with whom you are sharing the information. No third person can have access to your messages and calls.
How to enable end-to-end encrypted backup?
The end-to-end encryption option offered by WhatsApp is not new. But now, the platform has added an extra layer of security to chat backups as well. Here’s how you can do it:
1: Open WhatsApp on your smartphone.
2: Tap on the three dots present at the top right corner of the screen.
3: In the drop-down menu that appears, click on Settings.
4: Now, go to Chats> Chat Backup> End-to-end encrypted backup.
5: Next, click on “Turn on” and then create a password or key.
6: Finally click on “Create” and wait till WhatsApp prepare the end-to-end encrypted backup.
Also Read: How To See Deleted Messages On WhatsApp- Tricks You Need To Know
How to stay safe on WhatsApp?
While the messages and WhatsApp video call are end-to-end encrypted, there still are chances for you to get exposed to hackers. Here are some ways to stay cautious on the app.
- Take advantage of the Privacy features
WhatsApp gives you the option where you can choose who can see your profile picture.
You can set the privacy to either “Everyone”, “My Contacts”, “My Contacts Except” or “Nobody”. Here’s how to do so:
- Open WhatsApp on your smartphone or desktop.
- Go to Settings.
- Click on Privacy> Profile Photo.
- Choose your desired privacy option.
- Blocking is an option too
If anyone is misbehaving or becoming a hindrance to your privacy on the app, you can simply block them.
- Tap on the person’s chat on WhatsApp.
- Click on the three-dot option in the top-right corner of the chat.
- Then, tap on “More”.
- Finally, click on Block and you are done.
The person won’t be able to call or text you on WhatsApp anymore.
- Don’t share critical information through texts or calls
This one is general advice. No matter what platform you are using, you should not share your critical information like bank details, OTP, passwords, etc. with another person on the app.
- Never pick up calls from strange numbers
We know that the country code for calling for India is +91. And you would mostly get calls with numbers starting with the same. However, if you see any strange number, you must refrain from accepting the call as it might be of some scammer.
- Activate two-factor authentication
With two-factor authentication, you can double-lock your WhatsApp account. It gives you an additional hand on security. Here’s how you can activate two-factor authentication:
- Open WhatsApp on your smartphone.
- Tap on the three dots present at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Click on Accounts> Two-step verification> Turn on.
- Now, set a six-digit password of your own choice.
- Then, provide an email address that will help you reset the password in case you forget it.
- Now, tap Next.
- Confirm the email address and then click on Save.
Final Thoughts: Is WhatsApp Video Call Safe?
WhatsApp video call is trusted and safe.
The app claims not to be releasing any of your data. However, the other person can do screen recording or take screenshots, thereby exposing you if they want to. So, you need to be sure with whom you are doing calls.
Also Read: Read This Before You Download Yo WhatsApp
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Highlights of the Story
- WhatsApp video call is a great way to stay connected with your friends and family.
- But how safe is it actually?
- Let’s find out the answer in this post.
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How Safe Is WhatsApp Video Chat?
WhatsAppMessaging
By Rob Emerson January 26, 2023April 3, 2023
You can do plenty with WhatsApp, including chatting and calling your friends and family.
WhatsApp even lets you start a group video call to bring all your friends to catch up during the weekend.
Many users are concerned about the video call’s security and privacy when enjoying the video call.
Can someone intercept the WhatsApp video chat? Is it safe to use WhatsApp video chat?
We will present the steps for initiating a WhatsApp call.
From there, we will discuss how safe WhatsApp video chat is and the factors that can compromise your safety when using WhatsApp video chat. Ready? Let’s take a look!
Table of Contents
- How To Make a WhatsApp Video Call
- How Safe is WhatsApp Video Chat?
- How Can a WhatsApp Video Chat Be Compromised?
- Conclusion
How To Make a WhatsApp Video Call
As a messaging application, WhatsApp lets you chat with friends or make audio or video calls to them. WhatsApp introduced video calls to ensure it competes favorably with other platforms like Skype.
With a video call, you can engage more with a person or a group to share ideas and network better.
Making a WhatsApp video call is an easy task.
- Open WhatsApp on your phone.
- Tap on the “Calls” tab.
- Tap on the phone icon with a plus at the bottom.
- Tap the “New group call” option and select your friends for a group call.
- Otherwise, scroll down and find the contact you want to call, then click the video camera icon to start the WhatsApp video chat.
When the person you call accepts the call, you can see each other on the screen and interact for as long as you want, provided you have an internet connection.
How Safe is WhatsApp Video Chat?
The safety of a WhatsApp video chat is a common worry among many users. There is plenty you can do and share during a WhatsApp video call, and when you don’t have the guarantee that your WhatsApp video call is safe, you will feel uneasy.
A data breach of WhatsApp video calls can expose a lot. Since most WhatsApp video chats contain sensitive data, you wouldn’t want someone to intercept or hack into your WhatsApp video call.
WhatsApp enforces end-to-end encryption for its calls and chats.
End-to-end encryption means your communication on WhatsApp is secure, and even the WhatsApp team can’t access it.
Ideally, with end-to-end encryption, only the sender and receiver can access the contents of the shared video chat.
Here’s the thing: your WhatsApp video call will be encoded before it leaves your phone, such that the packets are encoded while in transit so that an intermediary can’t decode it.
When the packets reach the receiver’s end, they will get decoded and converted into human form. You will see the notification for the end-to-end encryption on the home screen of your WhatsApp.
Again, WhatsApp doesn’t store the data for a WhatsApp video chat on its servers, as it does for texts. So, you are assured that once you make and end your WhatsApp video chat, that’s it!
Your WhatsApp video chat is secure and safe, away from the hacker’s eye.
How Can a WhatsApp Video Chat Be Compromised?
Some loopholes can be exploited to compromise your safety and privacy during a WhatsApp video chat. Although WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption, it doesn’t extend to securing your phone.
So, if someone can install a spy app on your phone, they can see it to screen record your phone while in a WhatsApp video chat.
Again, if a hacker sends you malicious links and you tap on them, you create a loophole to compromise your WhatsApp video chat.
Sometimes, if you use an insecure network for your WhatsApp video chat, an attacker can sniff the network and access your WhatsApp video chat in an encrypted format.
With time and resources, the attacker can decrypt the content and access your WhatsApp video chat.
As a user, you must ensure you don’t install malicious apps or click on any shared links. That way, you will remain safe when using WhatsApp video chat.
Conclusion
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption.
Your WhatsApp video chat is encrypted; only the receiver can decrypt it. That’s how secure WhatsApp video chat is.
However, your phone can be targeted and used to compromise your WhatsApp video chat through malicious apps.
We’ve discussed WhatsApp video chat, from how to make a call to how secure it is.
How secure is WhatsApp?
The logical question is, how safe is it to give a regular application such wide access to personal information? Cybersecurity experts are skeptical of WhatsApp developers' initiatives to process and store user data. Let's see why this messenger is not recommended for those who care about their own privacy and anonymity.
WhatsApp encryption
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect all kinds of data used in the application. The messenger’s encryption algorithm and keys not only make it impossible to decrypt messages transmitted by users, but, according to WhatsApp management, prevent third parties and even government intelligence agencies from intercepting calls and reading users’ correspondence.
In addition to the encryption feature, WhatsApp allows users to fine-tune their privacy settings, including visibility of their status and profile to other messenger users.
How secure is WhatsApp?
Cybersecurity experts say "not 100%." Yes, end-to-end encryption makes WhatsApp more secure than other instant messaging software. However, like any application, WhatsApp is often targeted by sophisticated digital attackers (hackers).
Please note that by agreeing to the WhatsApp privacy policy, you voluntarily give the messenger access to your contact list and the ability to track your online activity, i.e. in what places (geolocation) and for how long you use WhatsApp. This, to some extent, puts your confidentiality and integrity of personal information at risk. And in the modern world, personal data is a valuable commodity, especially among various scammers and annoying advertisers.
WhatsApp security issues
In May 2019, hackers discovered that it was possible to infect users' phones with spyware by calling potential victims via WhatsApp. And although the developers of the messenger quickly fixed the software error, the personal data of a certain number of users still "leaked" to the network.
What's more, WhatsApp collects and stores information about all your online activity through the app. And although the WhatsApp management verbally denies its politicization and the possibility of interacting with the authorities of different countries, there are several facts confirming that the popular messenger transferred user data to the secret services at their request.
How can WhatsApp users protect themselves?
To protect your phone and keep personal information private from prying eyes, we recommend using a virtual private network (VPN).
VPN is based on technology that allows you to anonymously access your favorite sites or use your favorite applications from virtual IP addresses, bypassing the server of your Internet provider.
Such a mechanism for accessing the Internet excludes the theft of personal data by any of the methods available today. All Internet traffic is securely encrypted and transmitted through a secure tunnel to one of the VPN provider's remote servers located in different parts of the world.
You can change your virtual location by choosing a different access server, moving from, say, Russia to Malaysia in a second. Attackers simply will not keep up with tracking your activity!
Most VPN service providers allow users to evaluate the capabilities of their services and test one of the VPN applications for Android or iOS for free before deciding to purchase a permanent subscription.
Among other things, it is recommended that you keep your smartphone app and software (OS) up to date, make the most of your WhatsApp privacy settings and, if possible, never share valuable content with unfamiliar users.
Why WhatsApp will never be secure / Sudo Null IT News
Columnist Pavel Durov, founder of the Telegram messenger
The world seems shocked by the news that WhatsApp has turned any phone into a tracking device. Everything on your phone, including photos, emails and texts, was accessible to attackers just because you have WhatsApp installed.
However, this news did not surprise me. Last year, WhatsApp had to admit to a very similar problem - a hacker could access all of your phone's data through a single video call.
Every time WhatsApp fixes a critical vulnerability in its app, a new one appears in its place. All security issues are well suited for surveillance, they look and work like backdoors.
Unlike Telegram, WhatsApp does not open source, so security researchers cannot easily check for backdoors. WhatsApp not only does not publish the code, they do the exact opposite: WhatsApp deliberately obfuscates the binaries of their applications so that no one can carefully examine them.
Perhaps WhatsApp and its parent company Facebook are even required to implement backdoors - through secret processes such as secret orders from the FBI. It's not easy to run a secure messenger while in the US. During the week our team spent in the United States in 2016, FBI agents tried to infiltrate us three times.
Imagine what will happen to an American company in 10 years of operating in such an environment.
I understand that the law enforcement agencies justify installing backdoors as an anti-terrorist effort. The problem is that such backdoors can also be used by criminals and authoritarian governments. No wonder dictators seem to love WhatsApp. The lack of security allows them to spy on their citizens, which is why WhatsApp is not blocked in countries like Russia or Iran, where Telegram is banned by the authorities.
In fact, my work on Telegram was a direct response to personal pressure from the Russian authorities. Then, in 2012, WhatsApp was still transmitting messages in clear text. This is madness. Not only governments or hackers, but also mobile providers and WiFi administrators had access to all WhatsApp texts.
WhatsApp later added some encryption, which quickly turned out to be a marketing gimmick: the decryption key was available to at least a few governments, including Russia.
Then, as Telegram began to gain popularity, the founders of WhatsApp sold their company to Facebook and said they had “privacy built into their DNA.” If this is true, then this is probably a dormant or recessive gene.
Three years ago, WhatsApp announced that they had implemented end-to-end encryption so "no third party can access messages." This coincided with an aggressive call for all users to back up their chats to the cloud. However, WhatsApp did not tell users that, when backed up, messages are no longer end-to-end encrypted and could be accessed by hackers and law enforcement. Brilliant marketing that has resulted in some naive people now serving prison terms.
Those who didn't fall for the constant pop-ups advising to back up their chats can still be tracked down with a number of tricks, from accessing contacts backups to subtle changes to the encryption key. WhatsApp user-generated metadata — logs describing who is talking to whom and when — is leaked to all agencies in large volumes through the parent company.
In addition, you get a set of critical vulnerabilities that replace each other.
WhatsApp has a stable and consistent history, from zero encryption at creation to current vulnerabilities oddly suited for surveillance purposes. Looking back, there has not been a single day in their ten year history when this service was secure. That's why I don't think just updating the WhatsApp mobile app will make it secure. To become a privacy-focused service, WhatsApp must risk losing entire markets and clash with authorities in its own country. They don't seem ready for this.
The founders of WhatsApp left the company last year due to privacy concerns. They are definitely bound either by secret orders or by the NDA, so they cannot publicly discuss backdoors without risking losing their fortune and freedom. However, they were able to admit that they "sold the privacy of their users."
I can understand the reluctance of the WhatsApp founders to provide more details - it's not easy to compromise your comfort.
Several years ago, I had to leave my country after refusing to comply with government-sanctioned violations of the privacy of VKontakte users. It was unpleasant. But will I do something like this again? With pleasure. Each of us will die sooner or later, but we, as a species, will stay here for a while. That is why I think that the accumulation of money, fame or power does not matter. Serving humanity is the only thing that really matters in the long run.
And yet, despite our intentions, I feel like we have failed humanity in this whole WhatsApp spy story. Many people can't stop using WhatsApp because their friends and family are still there. This means that we at Telegram have done a poor job of convincing people to switch. Although we have attracted hundreds of millions of users over the past five years, this has not been enough. Most internet users are still held hostage by the Facebook/WhatsApp/Instagram empire. Many of those who use Telegram are also on WhatsApp, meaning their phones are still vulnerable.
Even those who have completely given up on WhatsApp are probably using Facebook or Instagram, both of which think it's okay to store your passwords in cleartext (I still can't believe a tech company is capable of doing something like this and quit dry from water).
In nearly six years of its existence, Telegram has not experienced the major data breaches or security flaws that WhatsApp shows every few months. In the same six years, we have disclosed exactly zero bytes of data to third parties, while Facebook/WhatsApp shares any information with almost anyone who claims to work for the government.
Few people outside of the Telegram fan community realize that most of the new messaging features first appear on Telegram and then copied by WhatsApp down to the smallest detail. More recently, we witnessed Facebook's attempt to borrow the entire philosophy of Telegram, with Zuckerberg suddenly stating the importance of privacy and speed, quoting the description of the Telegram app almost word for word in his F8 speech.
But whining about FB's hypocrisy and lack of creativity won't help. We have to admit that Facebook is executing an effective strategy. Look what they've done with Snapchat.
We at Telegram must acknowledge our responsibility in shaping the future. It's either us or the Facebook monopoly. Either freedom and privacy, or greed and hypocrisy. Our team has been competing with Facebook for the past 13 years. We already beat them once, in the Eastern European social media market. We will beat them again in the global messaging market. We have to.
It won't be easy. The Facebook marketing department is huge. And we at Telegram do not do marketing. We don't want to pay journalists and researchers to tell the world about Telegram. To do this, we rely on you - our millions of users. If you like Telegram enough, you will tell your friends about it. And if every Telegram user persuades three of their friends to delete WhatsApp and use Telegram permanently, then Telegram will already become more popular than WhatsApp.
