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The warning that WhatsApp displays on its desktop app and web app when a user receives a “View Once” media. (Image Credits: TechCrunch/Screenshot)
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WhatsApp fixed a bug that allowed malicious users to save pictures and picture that were supposed to be viewed only once and then vanish .
In September , TechCrunch reportedthat a bug in the implementationof the “ View Once ” privacy feature allow people using WhatsApp ’s web browser app - based web app to expose and then keep the moving-picture show or television . The View Once feature is design to prevent recipients from saving , sharing , furtherance , copying , and even screenshotting or screen recording media sent as “ View Once , ” given that in normal circumstances , the mental picture or videos go away after being catch .
On Friday , WhatsApp spokesperson Zade Alsawah told TechCrunch that the party has roll out a long - term localization that resolved the matter .
“ We ’re constantly build in layers of privacy protective cover , and that include rolling out key update to view once on web , ” Alsawah said in an email . “ As always , we continue to promote users to only get off View Once messages to citizenry they live and hope , and make indisputable they ’re on the latest version of the app . ”
Tal Be’ery , a security researcher , who has beenlooking into WhatsApp ’s privacy issuesthis year , alerted WhatsApp and TechCrunch of the bug . But Be’ery was n’t the only one who found the flaw . When he found it , there were also several web browser app extensions and Post on social sensitive that advertise easy solution to circumvent the privacy feature , allowing user to just install an extension and automatically be able to display and spare media transmit as View Once .
After WhatsApp ’s fix , which appear to have been pushed in the last couple of weeks , users of those internet browser extensions , some of which require a pay subscription , are complaining that they do n’t work anymore . “ Does not work AT ALL . Do n’t waste your time ” quetch one user .
Now , in a mental testing perform by TechCrunch on Friday , when we received a View Once Message on WhatsApp ’s World Wide Web app , the app displayed the following message , which is the same content that it unremarkably exhibit on the desktop app .
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In another test perform by TechCrunch and Be’ery last week , the investigator saw a unlike content : “ Waiting for this message . Check your sound . ”
In any case , Be’ery was n’t capable to save the ikon using the proficiency he has been using for months . “ Sometimes , when a exposure is exploited in the state of nature , a responsible revealing is to go public , ” Tal Be’ery told TechCrunch . “ We are very felicitous that our enquiry and publication drove WhatsApp to desexualise the issue and protect the privateness of their user . ”
Be’ery , who is the CTO and cobalt - founder of crypto wallet Zengo , published a web log poston Monday analyzing the fix .
View Oncewas launched in 2021and is designed to work only on WhatsApp ’s iOS and Android apps , and not on the web or background app .
