WhatsApp has a practical function so that your data is well protected even during calls – but only very few people know about it.
WhatsApp is probably the most popular messenger service in Germany. When it comes to data protection, the Meta Group’s app doesn’t have the best reputation. This makes it all the more surprising that WhatsApp hides one of its best privacy settings from users.
Since WhatsApp is constantly rolling out new features, users can quickly miss them. As early as October 2023, developers introduced the function that allows users to protect their IP address when making calls via WhatsApp. So far, IP address protection is purely optional, so users have to activate the function themselves – but they first have to find the setting.
WhatsApp hides security feature: This is how you find the secret function
This is how you can activate the security feature in WhatsApp:
- Go to the three dots in the top right corner Settings.
- Select the sub-item “Data protection” out of.
- Scroll down and tap “Advanced“
- To activate, tap the button “Protect IP address in calls“
The IP address can provide information about the location and Internet provider of the caller. Such sensitive data should not fall into the wrong hands. However, WhatsApp is repeatedly exploited for fraud. IP protection therefore makes perfect sense. But how does it work?
How does IP address protection work in WhatsApp
WhatsApp uses the same scheme as VPN services for the function. The caller’s location is concealed by first redirecting him to a WhatsApp server. This makes it harder for the person on the other end to find out the original IP address. Users also don’t need to worry that Meta could listen in on conversations via the intermediate server. The phone calls are still end-to-end encrypted.
However, the extended data security has one disadvantage: the description of the function points out that the call quality can be reduced as a result. This is because the data has to travel a longer distance when IP address protection is active. However, self-testing has not shown any loss in call quality so far. If you have problems making calls, you can always deactivate the function.
Preview image: © Weronika Peneshko/dpa
