WhatsApp Critical Privacy Bug Fixed in Latest iOS Update

WhatsApp has released version 25.2.3 for iOS devices to patch a significant privacy vulnerability that affected its "View Once" feature. The bug allowed users to access photos and videos that were meant to disappear after a single viewing.

Whatsapp Feature
The security flaw, which only impacted iPhone users, allowed anyone to view supposedly ephemeral content by navigating to Settings ➝ Storage and Data ➝ Manage Storage and sorting media by "Newest." This completely bypassed the privacy protection that View Once was designed to provide.

Security researcher Ramshath first documented the vulnerability in a Medium post, prompting WhatsApp to acknowledge the issue and develop a fix. This isn't the first time View Once has faced security challenges – a similar bug was discovered and patched on WhatsApp Web last December.

The latest update also introduces several new features, including the ability to make calls without saving phone numbers first and enhanced group calling capabilities.

Given the privacy implications, WhatsApp users on iOS should update their app immediately through the App Store to ensure their View Once media remains ephemeral as intended. [Direct Link]

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Top Rated Comments

UliBaer Avatar
12 weeks ago
Simply use Signal instead - and spread the word about it! ;)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vantelimus Avatar
12 weeks ago

What is the practical use case for "view once"?
It is for sending any kind of information that should not be saved or stored, like a password or a confidential note. It can be easily defeated by using another device to take a photo of the screen, so it isn't really a great security feature. It seems more useful for sending temporary information, like a one-time code that no one would want to save.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cjsuk Avatar
12 weeks ago
Have they made it not owned by Meta then?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
12 weeks ago

What is the practical use case for "view once"?
I use it a lot to show someone a random meme, screenshot or what I have for dinner. Potentially nudes? (not me, generally speaking). Basically everything I don't need to keep / saved to my camera roll. I wish iMessage had it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xander49x Avatar
12 weeks ago
I stopped using anything made by meta in 2018 #boycottmeta
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aj8690 Avatar
12 weeks ago
The title of this article makes it seem like it was an iOS issue.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)