The message content in the WhatsApp application is protected by terminal encryption. However, if these messages are archived on cloud services such as iCloud (for iOS) or Google Drive (for Android), they are not protected by the encryption standards mentioned above. This is a recently released vulnerability that hackers can easily use to read victims’ messages.
However, updates will be released soon to help users resolve this vulnerability. Forbes reports that WhatsApp for iOS Beta will change to allow encryption of chat history stored in iCloud, including media data such as photos and videos. Since then, hackers and Apple will not be able to read messages stored on iCloud WhatsApp. At the same time, WhatsApp version 2.20.73 also uses Android chat backup encryption. This function is called Protect Backup.
There is no word on whether this vulnerability has been hacked before, but WhatsApp’s efforts to implement security patches are reassuring users after publishing the information.
1 comment