WhatsApp Can Now Enhance Security by Concealing Your IP Address While Making Calls

You have the option to route your calls through WhatsApp’s servers, but the company mentions that it may slightly reduce voice quality.

WhatsApp Can Now Enhance Security by Concealing Your IP Address While Making Calls
WhatsApp Can Now Enhance Security by Concealing Your IP Address While Making Calls

WhatsApp is enhancing security for its most privacy-conscious users with the addition of a “protect IP address in calls” toggle in the settings. This feature shields your IP address from the other party during a call by routing it through Meta/WhatsApp servers when activated.

WhatsApp Can Now Enhance Security by Concealing Your IP Address

WhatsApp’s Daniel Sommermann, Sebastian Messmer, and Attaullah Baig explained in the post that many of the calling products in use today establish peer-to-peer connections among participants. While this direct connection enables faster data transfers and improved call quality, it requires participants to be aware of each other’s IP addresses. These IP addresses might reveal details, such as a general geographical location or internet provider, which some of our most privacy-conscious users may find concerning.

Balancing Privacy Enhancements with Call Quality and Security Measures

However, the improved privacy does have its downsides. WhatsApp points out that the new setting “will decrease call quality,” a fact reiterated on the page explaining how to activate it, where WhatsApp states, “when using call relaying, you may experience reduced call quality.” The company also stressed that calls remain end-to-end encrypted, even when utilizing the new relay option.

Another feature mentioned in the blog post is the ability to silence unknown callers (initially announced in June). WhatsApp claims this helps to prevent spam disruptions and eliminates a potential avenue for sophisticated cybersecurity attacks.

The blog post emphasizes that safeguarding user privacy and security is vital for WhatsApp to fulfill its mission of providing private communication worldwide. These new security features, along with various other protections, ensure people’s safety on WhatsApp. You can locate the new “protect IP” toggle in WhatsApp’s settings within the privacy section.

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