WHATSAPP is introducing a cool system to keep you safe, but it’s not watertight.
The smart system prevents people from taking screenshots of your View Once messages.
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WhatsApp adds a screenshot lock in an updateCredit: WhatsApp
View Once is a “disappearing text” system built for sensitive text.
Maybe you’re sharing bank details, a private picture, or something else you don’t want to stay in a chat.
In a new app update this month, WhatsApp has closed a major loophole: blocking screenshots.
But it’s not entirely safe: your text might still be preserved.
A rogue chatter could simply use another device to take a photo or video of the screen.
There is no way WhatsApp will stop this.
As always, the best advice is to be very careful about what you share online.
If you don’t want something to be on the Internet or shared, avoid sending it to anyone.
Even the people you trust now may not be so loyal in the future.
And someone could save an image and then end up getting hacked.
Locking screenshots on disappearing messages adds an important extra layer of security.
But you can’t trust yourself completely, so always be careful who you’re sending pictures, videos, or even texts to.
If an image is extremely sensitive, consider showing it in real life or find a safer way to get your message across.
However, it’s still a good idea to use View Once where you can, as it’s better than leaving an image exposed forever.
“View Once is already an incredibly popular way to share photos or media that doesn’t need to have a permanent digital record,” WhatsApp explained in a new blog post.
“We’re now enabling screenshot blocking for View Once messages for an extra layer of protection.”
The feature is currently in testing, and WhatsApp says it’s “going live soon.”
Keep checking back for app updates in the coming weeks.
You can do this in the Apple App Store for iPhone or the Google Play Store for Android.
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