Whatsapp is a proprietary instant messaging client for smartphones
Questions tagged [whatsapp]
150 questions
72
votes
2 answers
How is WhatsApp sending end-to-end encrypted messages in push notifications?
WhatsApp implemented end-to-end encryption (whitepaper) in their latest update.
How is it possible for WhatsApp to send push notifications with message contents to the Apple Push Notification service?
One possible solution would be to send the…
Antwan van Houdt
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70
votes
1 answer
How does end to end encryption work with whatsapp web?
Since today I have noticed whatsapp is using end to end encryption. However web.whatsapp.com is also still working. Does whatsapp establish a connection with my phone to keep things secure?
Mehdi Nellen
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64
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2 answers
Whatsapp encryption keys
Today I woke up and checked my Whatsapp and got the message that communications are encrypted end-to-end from now on.
However, how can I know whether Whatsapp can be trusted?
I did not generate my private/public keys, nor can I change them. Isn't…
Quora Feans
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53
votes
3 answers
Is Signal still more secure than WhatsApp?
WhatsApp has "recently" deployed end-to-end encryption using the Signal protocol, which is of course also being used by Signal itself. The related white paper (PDF).
Now this raises the question:
Is there still any security benefit to use Signal…
SEJPM
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46
votes
2 answers
How might the Chinese government be blocking only specific types of WhatsApp traffic?
There are currently media reports that the Chinese government are blocking some types of messages sent via WhatsApp ("pictures, voice messages and video").
Given that WhatsApp traffic has end-to-end encryption, what mechanisms is it likely that the…
Rory McCune
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31
votes
3 answers
Can I use WhatsApp to securely send public key, symmetric key and private key?
I am asking this because WhatsApp says it is end-to-end encrypted.
Are there any problems with sending a public key through WhatsApp?
There might be some objections to sending symmetric and private keys.
Under what circumstances can I send…
Olle Hudga
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30
votes
2 answers
How can WhatsApp restore local or Google Drive Backups?
This is all not about their end-to-end transmission protocol and my question is mostly Android centric.
What I ask myself:
When reading about hacking and decrypting local WhatsApp database backups it is mentioned that a private key in a restricted…
therealmarv
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28
votes
1 answer
More secure to use e.g. Whatsapp Web in Franz than in browser?
Yesterday I found out this application called Franz. Their policy says they don't collect any information about your chats and can't read them (because it's just an application who bundles them all and doesn't serve as sender).
But I was wondering,…
O'Niel
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27
votes
4 answers
How can WhatsApp do both targeted advertisement and end-to-end encryption?
Recently there have been a lot of news articles which say that Facebook will very soon add advertising to WhatsApp, yet will keep the end-to-end encryption (source):
[M]essages will remain end-to-end encrypted. There are no plans to change that.
I…
ransh
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27
votes
3 answers
Does backing up WhatsApp on Google Drive expose messages?
I was wiping and restoring a family member's Android phone today, as it was running slowly with loads of apps on it.
I decided to back up their WhatsApp messages to Google Drive in order to recreate their chat history easily after the wipe.
On the…
bitofagoob
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25
votes
6 answers
Can governments intercept end-to-end encrypted Whatsapp communication through lawful interception?
Since Whatapp started end-to-end encryption with an option for users to verify keys, many government security agencies, like the Indian one, red-flagged such use of encryption.
Now, Yesterday the Parliament was informed by Communications and IT…
CrownedEagle
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24
votes
3 answers
Which Cryptography algorithm is used in WhatsApp end-to-end security?
I have a presentation to make on Social Network Security. I have been doing some research regarding this.
I did a lot of searching, but was unable to find the Crypto Algorithm used by WhatsApp for end-to-end Encryption.
Taha Kirmani
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22
votes
3 answers
My country is attempting to block WhatsApp, what to do?
My country (Brazil) will start a 48 hour block on WhatsApp tomorrow, with cooperation from data (3G/4G) companies, but not home ISP companies (yet).
My question is:
How can I still access and send messages after the block is in effect using 3G/4G,…
Freedo
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19
votes
1 answer
How does the Signal Protocol, used by WhatsApp, work?
I want to understand the process of the Signal Protocol. I have google it, but I am unable to find any good article or tutorial.
I want to understand the basic definition and functionality of the Signal Protocol, and it would be great if any diagram…
Taha Kirmani
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19
votes
2 answers
How does WhatsApp's new group chat protocol work and what security properties does it have?
By now everybody has noticed that WhatsApp rolled out full end-to-end encryption recently, for direct communication, for media attachments and for group chats.
I've read their white-paper (PDF) and noticed a difference from Signal's group chats,…
SEJPM
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