While using WhatsApp, your messages are encrypted end-to-end, which means that some malicious people who take a hobby to intrude into people’s private lives cannot easily see the content of your message while you are messaging with someone else through some software means. However, if you keep a backup stored in the cloud, authorities can use a search warrant to have Google Drive or iCloud transfer access to the data.
But the situation at this point is now changing, WABetaInfo previously reported that WhatsApp is working on a technology to independently encrypt your backups in the cloud, and it says this backup encryption system has been enabled in the latest beta update for Android (2.21.15.5).
If you want to sign up for the beta program and test the technology, you should know that if you forget your password / lose the 64-digit recovery key, all your information will be permanently locked, and the company says it will securely backup your chat history and media with an important caveat on this issue; If you lose your password, even WhatsApp won’t be able to help you access your backups.
The Facebook-owned company is also currently testing a version of the software that works on multiple devices, maintaining end-to-end encryption whether you have a phone or not. If you’re a beta program user, we recommend checking your version carefully, as posts on social media suggest that closed encryption tests are expanding to include more people.
