Once again, WhatsApp comes with a new functionality. However, the popular messaging service has kept these things somewhat a secret. It is recommended to activate it.
Kassel – Anyone who uses WhatsApp can count on one thing: the messaging service always comes with updates. Sometimes these bring a new design, sometimes new functionality, and sometimes just new emojis. In some cases, the changes resulting from the update in question are so marginal that they are not immediately noticed by the user. But that doesn’t make them any less important.
This also applies to WhatsApp’s latest functionality, which is certainly not immediately obvious but is rather hidden. It is very practical. It ensures better call protection. Meanwhile, a new function is already available on WhatsApp, which allows better planning of events in group chats.
WhatsApp with a new function – this ensures better IP address protection during calls
The American Internet company Meta, which includes the messaging service among other things, often praises itself for the data protection and security of WhatsApp, and this is also the case again in a current blog post about the new functions in WhatsApp.
To some extent rightly so. Despite all the criticism that keeps coming up about the messaging service, WhatsApp has already proven how easy it is to launch end-to-end encryption, for example. Conversely, this does not mean that there is still room for improvement. Meta itself has identified the potential for improvement – and since October 2023, it has distributed a new function aimed at protecting the IP address of mobile phones.
WhatsApp users should explicitly turn on IP protection to better protect calls
Such as, among other things chip.de It has been reported that this new functionality has now reached many WhatsApp users. But it’s optional. What this means is that users must explicitly turn on IP protection. If this protection is activated, all calls will be forwarded through WhatsApp servers – and the IP address will be protected during calls.
Data protection on WhatsApp
In addition to writing and sending messages, calls are also very popular among users of the WhatsApp messenger service. On a technical level, these connections are called direct peer-to-peer communications between conversation participants.
Advantages here: better call quality and faster data transfer. The “gist”: Call participants must know each other’s IP addresses so that data packets can be forwarded to the correct device. This means: In 1:1 calls, the conversation partner in question also receives the other person’s IP address.
For example, an IP address, short for “Internet Protocol address,” can be used to find out the geographic location of a person or Internet service provider. This is why many users use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service to hide their IP address.
As a result, WhatsApp chat partners only see the server IP address of the person on the other end of the line instead of the IP address. However, as we mentioned at the beginning, this IP address protection is somewhat hidden. If you want to activate this, you have to go to the “Data Protection” menu item in Settings. Next, scroll down to the “Advanced” menu item. Then the new WhatsApp function “IP address protection in calls” can be activated.
The new WhatsApp function provides more protection for calls, but it can also reduce call quality
The messenger itself also mentions that the aforementioned call forwarding may affect the call quality. Of course you have to try it yourself. If there are indeed connection issues, WhatsApp Extra Protection can be turned off again immediately. Meanwhile, another new function makes it possible to use two WhatsApp accounts on one device. (Han)
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