WhatsApp finally released end-to-end encrypted backups feature
WhatsApp comes with end-to-end encryption for an excellent messaging app. The support began to be released to everyone in 2016, enabling users to have peace of mind that WhatsApp cannot intercept and read their messages from the encrypted end of the sender and can be removed until it reaches the recipient.
WhatsApp has been working on end-to-end backups for over a year now. The feature was released to beta testers earlier this year in July and is now finally being released on a stable channel.
Recently, WhatsApp announced that the last end-to-end encrypted backups feature has started coming out with the latest WhatsApp updates for iOS and Android. With this new feature, you will now be able to back up your chat backups with a unique password or 64-digit encryption key.
Read More: Facebook explains how WhatsApp end-to-end encrypted backups work
End-to-end encrypted backup on WhatsApp uses a completely new end-to-end encryption system that works across iOS and Android. The system encrypts chat backups with a unique, random key. You can save the key manually or by a password.
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If you choose to back up the password, you will get the option to access the Hardware-security-module-based Backup Key Vault to retrieve the encryption key and remove the backup encryption. The vault forces password verification attempts, and if you enter the wrong password a few times, make the key permanently inaccessible. This prevents violent attacks.
If you enter the correct password, Backup Key Vault confirms it. After confirmation, it sends the encryption key to the WhatsApp client. With the key in hand, the WhatsApp client can encrypt backups, giving you access to your conversations.
In case you are using a 64-digit encryption key, you will need to save it manually and enter the key to access your chat backup. In any case, WhatsApp or your backup service provider (Google Drive or iCloud) will be able to read your backups or access the key needed to unlock them.
To use end-to-end encrypted backups:
- Open WhatsApp settings.
- Navigate to Chats.
- Chat Backups.
- End-to-End Encrypted Backup.
- Tap on continue and follow the prompts to create a password or key.
Finally, tap done and wait for WhatsApp to prepare your end-to-end encrypted backup.
WhatsApp has pushed a new beta update for Android users, which brings a camera shortcut directly to the gallery sheet to make it easier to access the camera while sending photos or videos. The fresh beta update arrives with version 2.24.24.23, available through the Google Play Beta Program.
Previously, WhatsApp improved the way users send photo and video albums. With that, users can select multiple photos and videos at once, and add captions to entire albums to make it simpler to share media with context.
The new update is adding even more improvements. The camera shortcut, which used to be in the chat bar, is now available directly inside the gallery sheet. It saves time and makes it easier to capture something new without navigating through multiple steps.
Now, when you’re selecting photos or videos to send, you can quickly switch to the camera without leaving the gallery. This new change might feel like an extra step for some users who were used to accessing the camera with a single tap from the chat bar. However, the update aims to combine both the camera and gallery functions into one place.
Notably, not all users will see this new camera shortcut. If you still have the camera shortcut in the chat bar, you won’t see the one in the gallery sheet. This is to avoid clutter and make the app more organized.
This feature is currently available to a limited number of beta testers, and it will be rolled out to more users in the coming days or weeks.
WhatsApp is bringing a fun new feature to its app just in time for New Year celebrations. The latest update for WhatsApp beta users arrives with version 2.24.24.17, which introduces animated confetti reactions for certain emojis.
At the moment, the animated confetti emoji reactions are available to some WhatsApp beta testers on Android. It will likely be rolled out to everyone in the coming week with the stable update, obviously, ahead of the new year.
The fresh beta update adds a playful twist to your reactions. When you use the Party Popper, Partying Face, or Confetti Ball emojis to react to a message, colorful confetti will burst out of the emoji to create a lively and celebratory animation.
The confetti animation is powered by Lottie, a framework that helps create smooth and high-quality animations. This ensures the effects don’t slow down the app or use too much memory to make it run smoothly without affecting performance.
The new feature is perfect for marking moments of joy or sharing the excitement of the holiday season. If you’re a beta tester, you can try it out by reacting to a message with one of the festive emojis and watching the confetti burst to life.
WhatsApp introduces camera and gallery shortcuts in chat bar
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update for beta testers with version 2.24.24.16, which brings new shortcuts to the chat interface. This update introduces a gallery shortcut to make it easier to share photos and videos from your phone directly within chats.
WhatsApp recently replaced the camera shortcut in the chat bar with a gallery button for beta users. While this change allowed users to quickly share stored photos and videos, many users missed the camera shortcut, which gave them fast access to the camera for capturing moments on the spot.
Based on feedback, WhatsApp has decided to bring back both shortcuts in the chat bar. Now, users will see two buttons in the chat interface – one for quickly taking a photo or video using the camera and another for browsing and sharing photos or videos from their gallery.
These two shortcuts for the chat interface of WhatsApp make it quicker to share photos or capture new ones, without having to navigate through extra menus.
This feature is still in beta, so it’s available to only some testers right now. The feature will gradually be rolled out to more users in the coming weeks
WhatsApp is collecting feedback to see if the new dual shortcut setup improves the experience or if it feels cluttered. If you are testing beta on WhatsApp, install the latest version now.