WhatsApp Will Now Inform Users About Potentially Risky Links
Jul. 20, 2018WhatsApp is widely abused by spam and misinforming forwarded messages. Often many of these forwards contain malicious links and in an effort of sensitizing users, WhatsApp has introduced a new feature which it wasearlier seen testing.
With the latest beta update, WhatsApp willinform users when they receive a link that is potentially malicious, suggesting them to not open the link. To alert users, WhatsApp will add a red label saying “SUSPICIOUS LINK” at the top of the link preview.
The feature will alsonotify users once again with a warning messageafter they click on the link. From initial appearance, it looks like that the featureonly flags links that use special characters, and occasionally when the link usesHTTP protocolinstead of the more secure and updated HTTPS.
It is because WhatsApp chats are encrypted thatthese links are tested locallyand not verified against an online, and thus more reliable, database of malicious links. Inevitably, this will result in the app bypassing some sensitive link whileincorrectly flagging some others as suspicious.
The feature is currentlylimited to beta userson Android and we hope the company to straighten it out and make it more reliable before bringing it to the stable build. Nonetheless, with the large volume of spam links shared by WhatsApp, this feature will come in handy while dealing with pages spreading misleading information or even malware.
Additionally, WhatsApp is also building special features to contain misinformation on its platform and intends tolimit forwarded messages to five per sender. It has also partnered with several social institutions and is now building aprogram for the digital literacyof its users. Simultaneously, it is also buildingsome latest news verification toolsto help the government contain the amount of fake news spread through its platform, especially in the wake of national elections in India next year.
