WhatsApp long ago added end-to-end encryption to its messages to ensure a higher level of security and privacy for users. For those who do not know what this means, it is basically a security method so that only the sender and receiver of a message have access to its content. In this way, each chat has a security code that confirms this type of encryption in its messages. If you want to be notified when there is a change in these security or encryption codes , this is what we should do.
Before getting into the subject, it is important to know how this end-to-end encryption works, what it means to confirm code on the information screen of a contact, how can I confirm if a chat is encrypted and how we can receive a notification when there is a change. in security codes.
How WhatsApp End-to-End Encryption Works
Without going into more detail, it must be said that what the end-to-end encryption of WhatsApp does is to ensure that only we and the person to whom we send a message will be the ones who can read the content of it. That is, no one who can intercept those messages, not even WhatsApp itself, will be able to access it.
Each message sent has its own encryption code , which is also unique, and which is generated completely automatically without the need to activate anything. End-to-end encryption is on by default in WhatsApp and there is no way to disable it.
Confirm if a chat is end-to-end encrypted
Now, if we want to confirm that a chat is encrypted, what we must do is open the chat, touch on the name of the contact to access the information screen and once there, touch on the Encryption option .
There we will be shown the QR code and the 60 digits with which we can check the encryption with that contact. If our contact is close to us, one can scan the other’s QR code or compare the 60 security digits to verify that they correspond. In the event that we scan the QR code, if it matches, a green tick will appear indicating that everything is correct and therefore, the chat with that contact is encrypted with total security.
Get notified when a security code changes
As we have just indicated, each chat has a unique security code that is used to confirm that our messages or calls with that contact are encrypted. This code is found on the information screen of each contact and is nothing more than a visible version of the unique keys shared between both.
However, we should not worry that they may be visible to anyone, since the QR code or the 60 digits are not the encryption key itself, that is always kept secret for everyone.
If we want to receive a notification every time there is a change in the WhatsApp security codes, this is what we should do:
- We open the messaging app on our mobile.
- We tap on the menu button > Settings.
- We enter Account> Security.
- We slide the Show security notifications switch to the ON position .
From that moment on, any change in the security code of any of our contacts will cause us to receive a notification on our phone informing us of said change. This is for informational purposes only, as calls and messages with that person will remain end-to-end encrypted.
