WhatsApp is planning to test new Feature that will enable the users to send messages without having their own phones first time.
WhatsApp is currently connected to the user’s phone. Its desktop and web applications require these devices to connect and receive messages.
However, this new feature allows users to send and receive messages “even when your phone’s battery is low”. Up to four other devices – such as PCs and tablets – can share, WhatsApp says.
The new Feature will released as a Beta test for small group of people initially and team plans to improve the performance and then add this feature for everyone End-to-end encryption – WhatsApp’s main selling point – will also work under this new system, the statement said.
Several other messaging apps already have such a feature, including competitive encrypted signaling apps . They require the phone to register but not exchange messages.
That’s way the current app version “uses the smartphone app as the main device which enable the phone the source of truth for all user data and the only device that can perform end-to-end encryption for other users [or] enable call initiation”. Word of the company.
WhatsApp Web and other non-smartphone apps are basically “mirrors” of what’s happening on the phone.
However, this system has a significant drawback that many casual users aware of as it is known that web applications often crash.
It also means that only one so-called “companion app” can be active at the same time. Loading WhatsApp on another device separates the WhatsApp web window.
“WhatsApp’s new cross-device architecture removes these barriers by eliminating the need for smartphones as a source of truth. While keeping user data synced seamlessly and securely and privately,” the company said.
On a technical level, the solution gives each device its own “identity key”. WhatsApp keeps track of which keys belong to the same user account. This means you don’t have to store messages on your own server, which can cause privacy issues.
But Jake Moore, a security specialist at antivirus firm Eset, says having messages on more devices can still be a problem even if the protection is strong.
“There will always be bad actors trying to find a solution,” he said.
“Domestic abusers and abusers can now take advantage of this new feature by creating additional endpoints to capture synced private communications.”
He also said that social engineering is an “evolving” threat. It is the responsibility of consumers to be aware of possible abuse.
“So it’s important for people to know all the devices connected to their accounts,” he warned.
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