Instant messaging titan WhatsApp now enables continued access to the mobile app through proxy servers in its latest update, regardless of the restrictions in any country.
In a bid to support freedom of speech and as a gift to the users this new year, the Meta social networking subsidiary enlisted the help of volunteer organizations with servers worldwide to provide a safe and secure communication platform to anyone who needs it as an upgrade for a fresh start.
“Today, we’re launching proxy support for WhatsApp users all over the world. What this means is we’re putting the power into people’s hands to maintain access to WhatsApp if their connection is blocked or disrupted,” WhatsApp states in their latest blog.
Proxy Servers work the same way Virtual Private Networks (VPN) do—to be a secure intermediary between a user and a resource provider.
Typically, proxy servers also mask the IP address of users but do not encrypt data. However, this will be fine with WhatsApp’s proxy servers as messages will continue to be end-to-end encrypted.
“Your personal messages will still be protected by end-to-end encryption, ensuring they stay between you and the person you’re communicating with and are not visible to anyone in between, not the proxy servers, WhatsApp, or Meta.” WhatsApp reiterates.
The app provides what can be dubbed as a built-in VPN option which means that the quality of the connection will remain top speed, unlike relying on a free VPN.
WhatsApp adds, “in case these shutdowns continue, we hope this solution helps people wherever there is a need for secure and reliable communication.”
This latest update was sparked by the recent Internet shutdowns that were motivated by some political agenda.