WhatsApp 'View Once' messages are far more permanent than you realize

If you’re sending a “View Once” message, photo, or video through WhatsApp, don’t be so sure that the receiver can’t view it again.Security researchers with crypto wallet ZenGo recently discovered a bug that allowed WhatsApp users to view “View Once” messages as many times as they liked. SEE ALSO: Meta updates WhatsApp and Messenger third-party chats in Europe In response, WhatsApp patched the issue. But, ZenGo researchers then discovered another exploit in WhatsApp’s temporary fix that once again allowed them to access these messages that had supposedly disappeared.WhatsApp View Once exploitWhatsApp launched its View Once feature in 2021. View Once allows users to send texts, photos, and videos that disappear after the recipient initially accesses them. Furthermore, to ensure the ephemeral nature of these messages, WhatsApp disables screenshots from being used in the app on View Once messages through iOS and Android. In addition, WhatsApp limits View Once messages to the mobile apps only.However, in a post last week, ZenGo Security Research Manager Tal Be’ery detailed an exploit that allowed his team to access View Once messages over and over again.Basically, as Be’ery explains, the View Once messages are only restricted from view in the mobile apps after being viewed. The media continues to exist on WhatsApp’s servers. If a user can find the URL for the media file, they can access the message or media file that was supposed to have disappeared.Be’ery went through the official channels with WhatsApp’s parent company Meta and reported the exploit through their bug bounty…WhatsApp 'View Once' messages are far more permanent than you realize