Meta’s WhatsApp, regardless of being a free and ad-free messaging and calling app, recognized for its ease of use, has built-in itself into our day by day lives. With time, it has developed right into a protected and personal messaging platform, gaining new security protocols to assist customers hold their conversations personal. Right here’s a have a look at its evolution.
In 2014, WhatsApp turned one of many first instantaneous messaging platforms to introduce learn receipts, a characteristic indicating whether or not a message has been learn. This was later upgraded, the place a double tick signifies the message has been delivered, and a double blue tick confirms it has been learn.
In 2016, WhatsApp launched end-to-end encryption, making certain that solely the sender and receiver can learn messages, not even WhatsApp itself. A 12 months later, in 2017, two-step verification was added to authenticate customers additional.
In 2019, WhatsApp unveiled biometric locks like Contact ID and Face ID, including an additional layer of safety to the app. Even when somebody beneficial properties entry to your telephone, they nonetheless can’t open WhatsApp with out biometric verification.
In 2020, the disappearing messages characteristic was launched, permitting messages to fade after being learn. This was expanded to incorporate pictures and movies with the View As soon as characteristic. In 2022, screenshot blocking was launched for View As soon as content material, stopping customers from saving delicate visuals.
In 2021, WhatsApp prolonged end-to-end encryption to backups, making certain that each one chat information saved on Google Drive or iCloud is encrypted. Customers might allow this characteristic with a single click on, providing enhanced safety for archived conversations.
For added privateness, 2022 noticed the introduction of the Silence Unknown Callers characteristic, together with the flexibility to dam and report unknown numbers.
Most not too long ago, in 2024, WhatsApp applied passkey verification, a extremely safe type of consumer authentication, additional cementing its dedication to privateness.
| WhatsApp privateness and innovation options: A timeline | |
| YEAR | FEATURES |
| 2014 | ● Learn Receipts |
| 2016 | ● Finish-to-Finish Encryption |
| 2017 | ● Two Step Verification |
| 2019 | ● Unlock by way of Face ID,vTouch ID
● New Privateness Setting and Invite System for Teams |
| 2020 | ● Disappearing Messages |
| 2021 | ● View As soon as for Pictures and Movies
● Finish-to-end Encrypted Backups ● Message Stage Reporting |
| 2022 | ● Screenshot Blocking for View As soon as Messages
● Go away Teams Silently ● Hidden On-line Presence ● Code Confirm ● Unintended Delete |
| 2023 | ● Personal Viewers Selector for Standing Privateness
● Silence Unknown Callers ● Privateness Checkup ● WhatsApp Channels ● New Block and Report Contact Card ● Passkey Verification on Android |
| 2024 | ● Group Context Card
● Passkey Verification on iOS ● Meta AI on WhatsApp |
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