New WhatsApp feature should enable millions of people to communicate more freely - also in Iran
Created: 01/07/2023 10:16 am
By: Marcus Giebel
Innovation in the new year: WhatsApp enables communication via proxy servers.
© IMAGO / Rüdiger Wölk
WhatsApp will enable its users to send messages past Internet blocks in the future.
The main focus is on Iran.
The company relies on the support of volunteers.
Munich – This report is likely to find open ears, especially in Iran.
Where citizens have been protesting against the oppression by the regime in Tehran for months, often risking nothing less than their lives.
WhatsApp now wants to enable them to continue communicating with each other via the messenger service despite the prevailing internet blockades.
Just like all other people in the world who are denied free online communication, which is a matter of course in Germany.
"While many of us have been celebrating the New Year and texting loved ones via WhatsApp, millions of people in Iran and elsewhere are being denied the right to communicate freely and privately," WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart tweeted on Thursday (January 5). announced: "Today we're making it easier for everyone to connect via WhatsApp by using proxy."
WhatsApp with update: allows access to proxy server - messages remain encrypted
Proxy servers offer the possibility of bypassing Internet blocks by tapping into external servers abroad and using changing IP addresses.
Connection requests to the WhatsApp servers can now also be made in this way.
Important: According to the messenger service, the proxy servers have no access to the chats because they remain encrypted during the transmission process.
"We hope to make it significantly more difficult to violate everyone's right to private communications by making proxy use easier," Cathcart continues.
However, the proxy servers are not offered by WhatsApp itself, rather the Meta subsidiary is hoping for the support of volunteers and aid organizations, as the boss further emphasizes.
The software required for this is made available free of charge.
Video: WhatsApp will be turned off on these smartphones in 2023
New feature for WhatsApp: Update available for Android and iOS
With the latest update, the new feature should be available in both the Android and iOS versions.
The function can be activated in WhatsApp via "Settings".
Under the item "Storage and data" you will find the category "Proxy settings" at the bottom.
After one click, the corresponding server address can be entered via “Use proxy” and “Set proxy”.
Finally, click on "Save".
A successful connection is symbolized by a white tick on a green star.
If messages still cannot be sent, the selected server is presumably blocked.
However, Netzwelt
also points out that there are other ways of enforcing Internet blocks, so that the proxy servers would also be powerless.
Giga
brings a cut of the complete connection to the Internet into play here.
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WhatsApp allows you to circumvent Internet blocks: A wide range of proxy servers is required
With regard to Iran, Der
Spiegel
writes that the regime is already using more sophisticated techniques to track down and terminate encrypted connections.
Data connections could be slowed down to such an extent that videos can hardly be transmitted.
In addition, the leadership is trying to exercise control over app stores.
The report also emphasizes that "a wide range of proxy servers should be built".
Because every address that has become publicly known could be blocked relatively easily.
It would therefore also be important for the operators to transmit the addresses of their servers only in secure ways.
(mg)
Another new WhatsApp feature is likely to have a small icon that causes confusion.
Thanks to another function, WhatsApp messages will soon disappear on their own.
Privacy is said to be able to benefit from another update at WhatsApp.