WhatsApp sees massive drop in viral messages

[Jamie McKane]

WhatsApp sees massive drop in viral messages

WhatsApp's recently-implemented restrictions on the forwarding of viral messages have had a significant impact on the spread of these types of messages.

Speaking to TechCrunch, the company said that the spread of highly-forwarded messages on its platform has dropped by 70% globally since it implemented its new restrictions.

 

[ThatOtherGuy]

If messages are encrypted, how does whatsapp know that a particular message is highly shared and by extension, that viral messages forwarding has decreased?

 

[Crimson & Blue]

If messages are encrypted, how does whatsapp know that a particular message is highly shared and by extension, that viral messages forwarding has decreased?

You don't have to decrypt the message contents to index it.

 

[rustypup]

If messages are encrypted, how does whatsapp know that a particular message is highly shared and by extension, that viral messages forwarding has decreased?

Farcebook. That bastion of privacy.

 

[Solarion]

Thing is, WhatsApp can decrypt the messages as they pass through their servers. Easy as pumpkin pie if you have the Salting/Hashing algorithms.

Like our blonde friend holed up in HM Belmarsh once said: "None of us is safe"

 

[PsyWulf]

If messages are encrypted, how does whatsapp know that a particular message is highly shared and by extension, that viral messages forwarding has decreased?

They've said before they use hashes to match content
1. So assuming that report spam button sends content of the message and reports are dropping,
2. or they can reverse it from the report to track the path and forwards

 

[FiestaST]

*Watsapp.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

If messages are encrypted, how does whatsapp know that a particular message is highly shared and by extension, that viral messages forwarding has decreased?

but WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption ensures only you and the person you're communicating with can read what is sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp

WhatsApp Security

WhatsApp Messenger: More than 2 billion people in over 180 countries use WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere. WhatsApp is free and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.

www.whatsapp.com

 

[Pablo37]

They have made it clear that they are at least tracking a unique message ID with their automatic stamping of any forwarded message.
I usually save/copy and attach/append as a new message with the words '...forwarded' typed in. A bit of a schlep but hey that's just me trying to mess with these algorithms so that they NEVER become infallible.