The security update developed by Meta to prevent the ‘View Once’ feature on WhatsApp from being re-viewed was dismantled by white-hat hackers within just one day. Here are the details…
‘View Once’ Feature Becomes ‘View Forever’
As you may know, this feature offered by WhatsApp allows users to automatically delete photos, videos, and voice messages after they are viewed once. However, the Zengo group, which discovered the security vulnerabilities, revealed that these materials are not truly deleted.
The ‘View Once’ feature was initially introduced in August 2021 to protect WhatsApp users’ privacy. Last week, Zengo reported this security flaw to WhatsApp through Meta’s bug bounty program but received no response.
Zengo’s team shared that the vulnerability allowed ‘View Once’ messages to be retrieved without deletion and could be exploited by various software.
Meta attempted to address the issue by releasing a security update shortly after the problem was disclosed. Initially, it was believed that the update was successful, but new tests by Zengo revealed that the fundamental issue still persisted.
Zengo’s co-founder, Tal Be’ery, emphasized that while Meta’s steps were significant, the core issue remained unresolved. Be’ery stated, “Media messages still contain all necessary information even after being viewed once, and this information can be displayed in inappropriate environments.”
It seems Meta is struggling to resolve the issues related to this feature. What are your thoughts on the matter? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments.
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