WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is launching a new privacy feature aimed at safeguarding users' IP addresses during calls, making it more challenging for malicious actors to infer their location. This comes after WhatsApp recently introduced a feature to silence unknown callers.
Enhanced Privacy Feature Details:
The new feature is presently available for select Android and iOS beta testers of WhatsApp.
A new section called "Advanced" has been added to the privacy settings screen.
Within this section, users can enable the "Protect IP Address in Call" option.
This added layer of security ensures that the IP address and location are relayed securely through WhatsApp servers, making it more difficult for call participants to determine the user's location.
It's important to note that enabling this feature may slightly affect call quality due to the encryption and routing processes through WhatsApp servers.
Benefits of Activating the Call Relay Option:
Enhanced anonymity in communications, particularly when interacting with individuals where trust hasn't been established.
Provides an extra level of security against location tracking.
Considerations:
Users should be aware that opting for this added protection might result in a minor reduction in call quality, as data has to pass through WhatsApp servers for anonymization.
WhatsApp Ends Support for 18 Smartphones:
WhatsApp has announced the discontinuation of support for specific Android and iPhone models.
Starting from October 24, 2023, WhatsApp will no longer be operational on these older smartphone models.
Conclusion:
WhatsApp's introduction of IP address protection for calls signifies a commendable step towards enhancing user privacy and security. This added layer of anonymity can be especially valuable in interactions with untrusted contacts. However, users should be mindful of potential minor impacts on call quality due to the encryption processes involved. Additionally, individuals using older smartphone models should take note of WhatsApp's plan to cease support.
