3 Reasons why you should always update WhatsApp

In this digital age, time is important, so most people want to satisfy most of their needs in just one click… More and more messengers are becoming popular, but WhatsApp still remains especially popular, which is why hackers keep their sights on it.

Here are some of the vulnerabilities in the WhatsApp application…

> Did you know that it is possible to gain access to an individual’s messages because of vulnerability in the WhatsApp protocol?

> Hackers can a gain access to a user’s cell phone by using a vulnerability that is triggered when a video call is answered.

> There is vulnerability with the two-factor authentication on WhatsApp. If a user switches off their phone at night, the password recovery system can be made to call and name the code, this code can be accessed using voicemail since most passwords are still weak.

To avoid becoming the next victim, always keep your WhatsApp updated! Has your phone been hacked? Please contact us immediately at TCG Digital Forensics in Cape Town and Centurion – give us a call on 021 110 0422 or email contact@tcgforensics.co.za

Your deleted WhatsApp messages might not be as 'deleted' as you thought

Sometimes, the delete option is your best friend.

WhatsApp brought you the two-tick (so you can’t hide the fact that you’ve received a message) and then the blue ticks (so you can’t hide the fact that you’ve read a message).

In April - despite much controversy following the San Bernadino attack, in which the FBI had paid almost £1 million to unlock the iPhone used by one of the shooters - WhatsApp went ahead with end-to-end encryption.

This means that while you can’t hide your ghosting antics from the person in question, you can hide your messages from third parties.

But according to a new blog post, an iOS device might actually still store your "deleted" messages.

The data works similarly to your laptop’s hard drive: you might be able to delete the WhatsApp messages, but deleting it doesn't overwrite the data, which means it can still be retrieved.

When you backup your iPhone with iCloud the data gets copied to a less secure forum.

While the information can’t necessarily be accessed by a third party, it is still stored locally on your device which means that the only real way to get rid of it is by deleting the app.

Even then, the police can still potentially access it.

Law enforcement can potentially issue a warrant with Apple to obtain your deleted WhatsApp chat logs, which may include deleted messages.

Basically, the delete option may not be that great friend after all.

DLA is based in Cape Town and combines the experience of two seasoned investigators with both criminal and civil backgrounds with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require.

How do I save my WhatsApp chat history?

Saving your WhatsApp messages is a relatively easy thing to do, and although it is possible to recover your WhatsApp history if it is ever lost, it’s better to just save them from the beginning to avoid problems later. Here’s how:

Your WhatsApp messages are automatically backed up and saved on your phone’s memory on a daily basis. If WhatsApp is uninstalled and you don’t want to lose any of your messages, make sure to manually back up your chats before uninstalling.

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Options > Settings > Chat History > Backup chat history.

2. Press Yes to back up your chat history.

If you are deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp, you will be asked to import your backup after you first open your new copy of WhatsApp. Simply press Restore and your chat history should begin to load.

If you need to transfer your chats from on phone to another, transfer your SD card to your new phone before installing WhatsApp. If you do not have an SD card, you will need to copy the whole “wa” folder from your old phone onto your new phone’s memory. Install WhatsApp and click on Restore when you see it, and your chat history should begin to load.

Here’s some useful technical information you may want to know about your backup:

- Backup files are saved in the “wa” folder and are called MsgStore.bak.

- Backup files are saved to both your phone’s internal memory and SD card, but only given that there’s enough space.

- Backup files are only valid for 7 days after the last save. Make sure you import your chat history before it expires!

- Backup files are phone number sensitive; they’ll only work with the same phone number.

- Backup files are saved in a format to be opened with WhatsApp. If you want to read your conversations on your computer, you can send them as .txt files from WhatsApp to your email.

DLA is based in Cape Town and combines the experience of two seasoned investigators with both criminal and civil backgrounds with the latest technologies to achieve the results that you require. We do many services, from data and WhatsApp history recovery to image and CCTV enhancement.