Facebook explains how WhatsApp end-to-end encrypted backups work

Published

3 months ago

September 11, 2021

On September 10, 2021, WhatsApp end-to-end encrypted backups for Android and iOS devices is officially announced. This feature allows you to further strengthen and protect the privacy of message backups. The Facebook-owned WhatsApp has provided end-to-end encrypted messages for a while now, although that additional security has not been used for backups in the past.

It also does not apply to the media and relies on encryption services provided by a cloud provider that backs up the service. Those cloud providers can explain them and if there is a need that has arisen, and to know privacy, that is obviously very small.

The company has begun testing hidden end-to-end backups in the beta version of WhatsApp, and now, before its extensive release, Facebook has explained exactly how those encrypted backups work.

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How WhatsApp’s end-to-end encrypted backups work

Facebook says it has launched a completely new end-to-end encryption system that works on both iOS and Android. Backups are encrypted with a unique, random key, and the key can be saved manually or by a password.

If the user wants to keep your password, they can access the Hardware-security-module-based Backup Key Vault to retrieve their encryption key and delete the backup.

This vault is responsible for enforcing password verification attempts and providing the key to permanent access after many unsuccessful attempts to recover it. This prevents power attacks, and WhatsApp will never know the key.

Storing keys in the Backup Key Vault

WhatsApp uses an earlier service called ChatD, which manages customer communication and customer authentication. It will apply a protocol that sends backup keys to and from WhatsApp servers, as well as the client and key vault exchange encrypted messages.

Backups are performed as a continuous stream of encrypted data – e.g., the encryption key can be used to decrypt it. Once encrypted, backups can be stored anywhere outside the site, including Google Drive or iCloud.

Facebook says to help address the number of users who rely on WhatsApp, the main vault service will be distributed geographically across all data centers once completed. Facebook also released two graphics that show how end-encryption works when you use a key to delete your backup, or when you use a user password to clear your encryption.

Here’s the encryption and decryption process when using a password

If the account owner uses a password to access their backup, then it will work via the following process to retrieve the key from the key vault.

They enter their password, which is encrypted and then verified by the Backup Key Vault.
Once the password is verified, the Backup Key Vault will send the encryption key back to the WhatsApp client.
With the key in hand, the WhatsApp client can then decrypt the backups.

If the 64-bit key alone is what’s being used, then the user will need to manually save and enter the key themselves.

Related Topics:ANDROID IOS UPDATE Whatsapp WhatsApp End-to-End Encrypted Backups

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Mohit Bharti

Mohit likes to keep silent in his workspace to always focus on improving his ability to understand new topics. He has his way of living life and his interest in Samsung lead him to become a Samsung enthusiast and writer at Sammy Fans.

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New WhatsApp Messenger (Android) Stable/Beta released

Published

12 hours ago

December 1, 2021

Mohit Bharti

WhatsApp is a well-known messaging service which is owned by Facebook. It lets you send and receive a variety of media like text, photos, videos, documents, location, and voice/video calls. With the help of this app, you can share some of your most personal moments because of its end-to-end encryption security.

It is one of the most popular social media apps which is used by more than 2 billion people in over 180 countries. WhatsApp offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.

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To maintain the popularity of WhatsApp, the company continuously works to add new features and improve the presently available features. WhatsApp also runs a beta testing program for an unreleased version of WhatsApp Messenger. As a beta tester, you’ll receive an update that includes a testing version of WhatsApp Messenger.

Get The Latest WhatsApp Versions: December 01, 2021

WhatsApp Messenger APK – STABLE

WhatsApp Stable 2.21.24.14
- Official Download Page
- Google Play Store Link

WhatsApp Messenger APK – BETA

Latest WhatsApp Android Beta version – 2.21.24.14 [via APKMirror]

Note: We are not providing any third-party WhatsApp APK download links.

Take a look at the features of WhatsApp

TEXTS – Simple, Reliable Messaging

WhatsApp uses your phone’s Internet connection to send messages so you can avoid SMS fees.

GROUP CHAT – Groups to keep in touch

With group chats, you can share messages, photos, and videos with up to 256 people at once. You can also name your group, mute or customize notifications, and more.

WHATSAPP VOICE AND VIDEO CALLS – Speak Freely

With voice calls, you can talk to your friends and family for free, even if they’re in another country. And with free video calls, you can have face-to-face conversations when voice or text just isn’t enough.

WHATSAPP ON WEB AND DESKTOP – Keep the Conversation Going

With WhatsApp on the web and desktop, you can seamlessly sync all of your chats to your computer so that you can chat on whatever device is most convenient for you.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS – Share Moments that Matter

Send photos and videos on WhatsApp instantly. You can even capture the moments that matter to you most with a built-in camera. With WhatsApp, photos and videos send quickly even if you’re on a slow connection.

END-TO-END ENCRYPTION – Security by Default

When end-to-end encrypted, your messages and calls are secured so only you and the person you’re communicating with can read or listen to them, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.

DOCUMENTS – Document Sharing Made Easy

Send PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, and more, without the hassle of email or file-sharing apps. You can send documents up to 100 MB, so it’s easy to get what you need over to who you want.

VOICE MESSAGES – Say What’s On Your Mind

Sometimes, your voice says it all. With just one tap you can record a Voice Message, perfect for a quick hello or a longer story.

Latest WhatsApp Android Beta introduces new shortcut for stickers forwarding!

Published

4 days ago

November 27, 2021

Megha Malviya

On June 23, Whatsapp introduced a new way to forward official stickers packs to your contact and groups. In the recent development, WhatsApp has released another beta update for Android users with version number 2.21.24.11. This new update brings a shortcut to quickly forward a sticker in Whatsapp.

Here a question arises that why WhatsApp is introducing this shortcut? Why was it needed? As WhatsApp already allows users to forward messages and sticker to any contact and group. But, the problem with this is that when you forward a sticker, the first thing you have to do is save the stickers. Otherwise, you cannot forward it.

But now with (via- WABetaInfo) this new feature, you can send stickers to any contact without saving them. Also, a good thing is that you will not see the option of a ‘Forward the sticker’ message.

To be noted, this feature is currently available for beta testers and those who install the latest WhatsApp for Android. It will soon release to the public through a stable update.

Aside from this, WhatsApp is always updating something new in the chat section or especially for Stickers. In the previous beta update, it is described that WhatsApp is planning to release a message reaction feature in the application.[Read more]

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WhatsApp Pay gets NCPI approval for expansion to 40 million Indian users

Published

5 days ago

November 27, 2021

Mohit Bharti

WhatsApp has received regulative approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI) to double the number of users offering its payment services in India. This comes as a Facebook-owned company requests that there should be no limit on the number of users it can work with.

WhatsApp Pay is built on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform and is part of a growing list of UPI-based payment services, including Google Pay, Flipkart’s PhonePe and Paytm.

Starting using WhatsApp to send and receive money is very easy. It can be used to send and receive money between two bank accounts in a fast and secure manner and with this expansion, the company will now be able to serve its 40 million customers, as reported by Reuters.

Not everyone has access to WhatsApp Pay yet and when the service was first launched, only 20 million of its 400 million users in India had this feature. That number has expanded from the 10 million user pilot launched earlier last year.

India has imposed a 30% cap on the total volume of UPI transactions processed by third-party app providers, with the aim of preventing large tech companies such as Google and Flipkart from dominating the market.

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WhatsApp’s massive 500-million-person user base will allow the app to suppress competition with its already stronghold in the instant messaging market if WhatsApp Pay is made available to all of its users.

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