New Delhi: WhatsApp has introduced a significant update to its beta version for Android, version 2.24.20.28, aimed at enhancing user safety when interacting with web links shared in messages. This update, available through the Google Play Store, features a redesigned link search tool designed to improve security, especially for messages containing suspicious or frequently forwarded links.
Key Features of the Update:
- Redesigned Link Search Tool: The new feature allows users to search links on the web directly from within the app, providing detailed information about the links they receive¹. When a link appears in a message, users can choose to search it on Google, ensuring that only the specific message containing the link is uploaded for the search.
- User-Controlled Process: The link search process is entirely user-initiated, meaning it only occurs if the user chooses to search the link². This ensures that users maintain control over their interactions and can avoid potentially malicious content while keeping their messages private.
- Privacy Assurance: WhatsApp emphasizes that the link search feature helps users avoid harmful content without compromising the privacy of their messages. The specific message containing the link is uploaded for the search, but the content is not shared with WhatsApp or stored on their servers.
Current Status and Availability: The updated link search feature is still under development and will be fully available in a future update of the WhatsApp app. However, beta testers using version 2.24.20.28 can already experience an early version of this feature.
This update represents WhatsApp’s ongoing commitment to enhancing user safety and providing tools that help users navigate the digital landscape more securely.
