As billions of people face internet shutdowns and government censorship each year, WhatsApp has the solution. Proxy access to the app is now available worldwide.
After deploying a new Accidental Delete feature, WhatsApp has just announced that it is launching proxy support for its users around the world. This new feature will allow users to retain access to WhatsApp if their connection is blocked or interrupted.
For those unaware, proxies allow users to connect to WhatsApp through servers set up by volunteers and organizations around the world dedicated to helping people communicate freely. Even if your connection is cut or the application is inaccessible in your country, WhatsApp should always remain accessible.
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WhatsApp wants to fight censorship and internet blackouts
Access to the app is currently banned in several countries, including China, North Korea, Syria, Qatar and Iran. The switch to proxies on WhatsApp was announced following the protests in Iran which prompted the local government to block access to the app in September.
« While many of us celebrated [la nouvelle année] by texting loved ones on WhatsApp, millions of people in Iran and elsewhere continue to be denied the right to communicate freely and in private said WhatsApp on Twitter.
Proxies can help people avoid censorship by concealing their traffic. When a person connects to a proxy server, its traffic is routed through this server before being forwarded to WhatsApp. This additional step makes it possible to avoid filters and blockages that may have been put in place.
The WhatsApp blog post links to instructions on how to connect to these servers using the app settings menu. Instructions are also available for anyone who wants to set up a WhatsApp proxy server for others to connect to the service.
Fortunately, WhatsApp claims that the proxy connection maintains the same level of privacy and security as the app, and personal messages will always be protected by end-to-end encryptiontherefore invisible to the company’s employees or even by the owners of the proxy servers.
Source : WhatsApp
