Security News > 2023 > June > WhatsApp Upgrades Proxy Feature Against Internet Shutdowns

Meta's WhatsApp has rolled out updates to its proxy feature, allowing more flexibility in the kind of content that can be shared in conversations.

Support for proxy servers was officially launched by the messaging service earlier this January, thereby helping users circumvent government-imposed censorship and internet shutdowns and obtain indirect access to WhatsApp.

The company has also made available a reference implementation for setting up a proxy server with ports 80, 443 or 5222 available and domain name that points to the server's IP address.

"A proxy server is an intermediary gateway between WhatsApp and external servers," WhatsApp said.

"Post verified proxy addresses, which they can then add to their WhatsApp accounts."

Internet shutdowns have been increasingly common across the world during times of crises, conflicts, communal violence, and to prevent cheating in examinations.

News URL

https://thehackernews.com/2023/06/whatsapp-upgrades-proxy-feature-against.html