WhatsApp for Android is updated and prepares its security enhancements

Security enhancements to WhatsApp for Android are already within the application, but have not yet been activated.And they are that with the new beta update to version 2.12.396, have introduced changes regarding the security of the application, in addition to also incorporate certain files related to the function to share documents, besides the typical corrections fixes and performance improvements that accompany each new update.

Let’s start by analyzing the APK of this new update of the beta version of WhatsApp for Android, and its installation file APK has increased by 141 KB, with 418 modified files, you can imagine that we can find files related to almost all its functions, giving us an idea of bug fixes and performance improvements introduced in this new version.

WhatsApp for Android and security improvements coming

But the really interesting is in the files that were added, a total of 12 new files, among which are 4 new semi-transparent icons, as you can see in the screenshot above, related to new security feature that will incorporate WhatsApp for Android . But in addition, they have added the “settings_security.xml” and “identity_verification.xml” very closely related to security enhancements, in addition to “register_phone.xml”, “red_circle.xml”, “green_circle.xml” file ” delete_account_feedback.xml “and” delete_account.xml “.

But the news does not end here, is that if the suggested translations of WhatsApp for Android find out more about the security enhancements to be added, very similar to those we discussed in WhatsApp for iPhone, such as end-to-end encryption, with our contact will provide us with a security number that must correspond with our terminal, for ensuring that the communication is not intercepted at any time.

To achieve this security system, WhatsApp has partnered with Open Whisper Systems, using part of an open source code, however, it was unclear how to work the exchange of messages, but it seems that according to translations of the company is to be used a series of QR-Codes to be scanned by the user, so as to see if they can provide safe end-to-end encryption.

In this way the new authentication system can be transmitted through a single contact, group or even during a phone conversation, but only if both parties agree to the unique code capable of being analyzed. So the encryption system will recognize the message, either text or voice, will be impossible for others to decipher.

Share Documents also receives news

As we have mentioned at the beginning, the function to share documents also receives its dose of news, which is that we have added a new file called “conversation_row_document_popup.xml” but also, as we see translations of WhatsApp for Android, we can not share more than 10 files at once. We still unclear what will be the size limit to share, but we can save the files on the SD card or internal memory, perhaps with some option in the new role.

WhatsApp for Android 2.12.396 – News:

• miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

How to download the Beta version of WhatsApp for Android

To install the beta version of the application, before, we have to allow the installation of applications from sources other than Google Play in our Android device, for it will have to go to “Menu> Settings> Security” and check the “Unknown sources” box. Once this is done we go to the official website of the application, you have the link below, and we can download WhatsApp Android in beta.

Remind you that the beta versions of the application are not exempt from errors, its installation can cause unexpected errors, even when installing the application will see messages that warn us, but as a rule the beta version of WhatsApp for Android never gives problems and we will have the latest news before than the stable version of Google Play.

WhatsApp for Android in its Public Beta version is available for free from the official website of the app.

Download | Official Website

Via | Mensajeria Movil