Hackers can steal WhatsApp user’s chat backups! You must get this new feature now

WhatsApp is working on adding a number of new features on its platform. The list includes voice waveforms, in-app tools to review bans, joinable group calls and View Once functionality on Android and iOS. Earlier this week, the Facebook-owned messaging app started rolling out one of the most awaited features -- multi-device support -- to its beta users. And now, word is that the company has started rolling out another new feature to its users and this one will be more than welcome. In fact, they would probably ask, 'what took you so long!'

WhatsApp chat backups in danger: We all know that WhatsApp end-to-end encrypts all conversations and messages that are shared on its platform be it via its apps or via WhatsApp Web. However, this privilege does not extend to the chat backups in case of the company’s Android-based app. This means that while hackers cannot access the conversation within the app, they can get access to a WhatsApp user’s chat backups. But this changes with the end-to-end encrypted backups as it encrypts all of users’ backups including their chat history and media using the same encryption technique that WhatsApp uses to secure its chats. This in turn protects the chat backups from unauthorised access.

Also read: Looking for a smartphone? Check Mobile Finder here.

How to get security from hackers: According to a report by WABetaInfo, end-to-end encrypted backups to the users of its WhatsApp Android beta app. Beta users can get their hands on this functionality by downloading version 2.21.15.5 of the app on their smartphones.

How it will safeguard WhatsApp users backups: So how does the encryption work? The blog site says that users need to pick a password that will encrypt future WhatsApp backups. They will have to insert the password when they restore a backup every time. In case they lose their password, they will not be able to restore their chat histories. This password is private and is not shared with WhatsApp, Facebook, Google or Apple. These end-to-end encrypted backups also support an encryption key that can be used to restore the password. This key can only contain numeric digits and lowercase letters between ‘a’ and ‘f’. The blog site cautions that if a user loses this key, WhatsApp will not be able to help them to recover it.