TheNewsGuru

Tag: WhatsApp

  • WhatsApp sets single day record on New Year’s eve

    WhatsApp sets single day record on New Year’s eve

    WhatsApp on New Year’s eve set single day record with 1.4 billion voice and video calls, making it the most ever calls in a single day on the platform.

    This is even as people increasingly turned to technology to stay in touch and get things done in the face of social distancing and stay-at-home mandates in 2020.

    According to Facebook, owners of WhatsApp, calling on the app increased by over 50% compared to the same day last year.

    On Facebook Messenger, people celebrated with effects, and the top AR effect in the US was “2020 Fireworks”.

    “New Year’s Eve 2020 was the biggest day ever for Messenger group video calls (3+ people) in the US, with nearly 2X more group video calls on NYE compared to the average day.

    “There were more than 55 million live broadcasts across Facebook and Instagram globally on New Year’s Eve,” the social media platform stated.

    Facebook said it’s engineers worked hehind the scenes to drive unprecedented efficiency improvements and make sure infrastructures were more resilient.

    “Before COVID-19, New Year’s Eve generated Facebook’s biggest spikes in messaging, photo uploads and social sharing at midnight across the world.

    “However, in March 2020, the early days of the pandemic produced traffic spikes that would dwarf New Year’s Eve several times over — and it lasted for months. Behind the scenes, Facebook Engineering came together to drive unprecedented efficiency improvements and make our infrastructure more resilient.

    “This work includes load testing, disaster recovery testing and shuffling capacity. This year, New Year’s Eve looked a lot different, and we had engineering teams across Facebook’s apps, ready to support any issue, so the world could ring in 2021,” Caitlin Banford, technical program manager at Facebook stated.

  • Will WhatsApp actually stop working on millions of smartphones in 2021?

    Will WhatsApp actually stop working on millions of smartphones in 2021?

    From 2016 when WhatsApp turned seven years old, the instant messaging app started ending support for a number of mobile platforms and phasing them out.

    When WhatsApp announced ending support for the mobile platforms, it set a timeline to phase them out as well.

    WhatsApp said at the time that looking ahead to its next seven years, it wanted to focus efforts more on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people use.

    So, by the end of 2016, WhatsApp ended support for WhatsApp Messenger on BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40, Nokia Symbian S60, Android 2.1, Android 2.2, Windows Phone 7 and iPhone 3GS/iOS 6.

    After ending support for the mobile platforms, WhatsApp from 2016 to February 1, 2020 started phasing the mobile platforms out.

    On June 30, 2017 WhatsApp phased out Nokia Symbian S60 and on December 31, 2017 the Facebook-owned platform phased out BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10.

    On December 31, 2018 WhatsApp phased out Nokia S40 and also phased out all Windows Phone operating systems after December 31, 2019.

    By July 1, 2019 the app was no longer available in the Microsoft Store.

    Android versions 2.3.7 and older were phased out after February 1, 2020 and iPhone iOS 7 and older were also affected on February 1, 2020.

    WhatsApp said the mobile platforms phased out do not offer the kind of capabilities needed to expand the app’s features.

    Meanwhile, several reports have emerged that WhatsApp will further phase out a number of other mobile platforms not listed in the 2016 announcement that was last updated on June 14, 2019.

    While the Facebook-owned firm is yet to confirm the reports, Yahoo, quoting TechRadar, reported smartphones owners with software older than iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 won’t be able to use WhatsApp beginning from 1st January 2021.

    Yahoo explained that this means if you have an iPhone 4 or older, you won’t be able to upgrade to the latest software at all and that it also applies to those who have very old Androids, such as the Samsung Galaxy S2 that was released nearly a decade ago.

    While the 2016 announcement that was last updated on June 14, 2019 very well mapped out the mobile platforms to be phased out and the timeline, WhatsApp is yet to confirm the recent reports.

    This means it is yet to be confirmed if WhatsApp is phasing out mobile platforms older than iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 beginning from 1st January 2021 or not.

    However, WhatsApp had earlier announced it will be updating its Terms of Service next year, forcing users to agree to new privacy rules in order to keep using the app.

  • Why your version of WhatsApp doesn’t support messages

    Why your version of WhatsApp doesn’t support messages

    Some WhatsApp users are increasingly receiving this message: “You received a message but your version of WhatsApp doesn’t support it. Update WhatsApp” on their app.

    While there are different reasons why users are seeing this message on their WhatsApp, there is no official statement from Facebook, owners of WhatsApp why this is so.

    Checks by TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) showed that one of the reasons for this is using a WhatsApp app that is not updated, even though users who have updated WhatsApp had faced a similar challenge.

    As WhatsApp keeps releasing new features to its platform, those new features require that your own WhatsApp must be up to date before you can enjoy the features.

    So, when a WhatsApp user with a higher version of WhatsApp sends you a message, your outdated WhatsApp may not be able to receive the message.

    Also, there are users who make use of the unofficial versions of WhatsApp such as GBWhatsApp, OGWhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus. Some messages from these moded versions of WhatsApp may not be compatible.

    Recall that WhatsApp in May 2019 started placing a temporary ban on accounts that use unofficial versions of the instant messaging app. WhatsApp stated that it doesn’t support these third-party apps because it can’t validate their security practices.

    With that said, also know that the latest feature – WhatsApp Disappearing message also needs your app to be updated before it can use the feature. So, if you received a disappearing message, you are likely going to see the same message.

    So, in order to resolve: “You received a message but your version of WhatsApp doesn’t support it. Update WhatsApp”, you may want to update your official WhatsApp app or if you are not using the official release, switch to official WhatsApp.

    How to update WhatsApp

    You can easily update WhatsApp from your phone’s application store. Please note if you received a message that isn’t supported by your version of WhatsApp, you’ll need to update WhatsApp. We encourage you to always use the latest version of WhatsApp. Latest versions contain the newest features and bug fixes.

    Android

    Go to the Google Play Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap Update next to WhatsApp Messenger.

    iPhone

    Go to the App Store and search for WhatsApp. Tap UPDATE next to WhatsApp Messenger.

    KaiOS

    Press JioStore or Store on the apps menu. Scroll to the side to select Social, then select WhatsApp. Press OK or SELECT > UPDATE.

    How to switch to official WhatsApp app

    You might need to backup your chat history before moving to the official WhatsApp app. The name of the unsupported app you’re using determines whether you need to transfer your chat history.

    Locate the name of the app by tapping More Options > Settings > Help > App info.

    Follow the steps below based on the name of the app: WhatsApp Plus or GB WhatsApp.

    If you’re using an app other than WhatsApp Plus or GB WhatsApp, we recommend saving your chat history before downloading the official WhatsApp app.

    GB WhatsApp

    We recommend following the steps below to save and transfer your chat history. Failure to follow these steps could result in lost chat history.

    Wait for your temporary ban to end. The timer will show you the length of the ban.

    In GB WhatsApp, tap More options > Chats > Back up chats.

    Goto Phone Settings > tap Storage > Files.

    Find the folder GB WhatsApp and tap and hold to select it.

    In the upper right corner tap More > Rename and rename the folder to “WhatsApp”.

    Navigate to the Play Store and download the official WhatsApp app.

    In WhatsApp, verify your phone number, and on the Backup found screen, tap Restore> Next.

    WhatsApp should load with your existing chats.

    WhatsApp Plus

    For WhatsApp Plus, if your chat history was previously saved, it should automatically transfer to the official WhatsApp app.

    Navigate to the Play Store and download the WhatsApp app. Verify your phone number, and that’s all.

    While these will resolve the error message, the only challenge is that you may not be able to view the message even after your WhatsApp is updated. You may need to ask the sender to resend the message.

    For questions, comments and any further assistance, drop a message using the comment section below.

  • Facebook faces lawsuits that could force sale of Instagram, WhatsApp

    Facebook faces lawsuits that could force sale of Instagram, WhatsApp

    The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and nearly every U.S. state sued Facebook Inc on Wednesday, saying that it broke antitrust law and should potentially be broken up.

    With the filing of the twin lawsuits, Facebook becomes the second big tech company to face a major legal challenge this fall.

    The FTC said in a statement that it would seek an injunction that “could, among other things: require divestitures of assets, including Instagram and WhatsApp.”

    In its complaint, the coalition of 46 states, Washington, D.C. and Guam also asked for Facebook’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp to be judged to be illegal.

    “For nearly a decade, Facebook has used its dominance and monopoly power to crush smaller rivals, snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.

    James said the company used vast amounts of money to acquire such rivals before they could threaten the company’s dominance.

    Facebook said it is reviewing the FTC and state antitrust complaints.

    The company said the government “now wants a do-over with no regard for the impact that precedent would have on the broader business community or the people who choose our products every day.”

    The U.S. Justice Department sued Alphabet Inc’s Google in October, accusing the $1 trillion company of using its market power to fend off rivals.

    The lawsuits are the biggest antitrust cases in a generation, comparable to the lawsuit against Microsoft Corp in 1998.

    The federal government eventually settled that case, but the years long court fight and extended antitrust scrutiny prevented the company from thwarting competitors and is credited with clearing the way for the explosive growth of the internet.

    Facebook shares fell as much as 3 per cent after the news before paring losses and were last down 1.7 per cent.

  • WhatsApp users to lose access from 2021 if terms not accepted

    WhatsApp users to lose access from 2021 if terms not accepted

    WhatsApp users may lose access to their accounts beginning from 2021 if they don’t accept the new terms of service of the messaging app.

    The popular messaging service reportedly will update its terms of service in the coming year, which will take effect starting February 8.

    If users do not agree to the new privacy rules, however, they could lose access to the messaging app.

    WABetaInfo shared a screenshot of the new Terms and Privacy Policy Updates, where it’s clearly stated that users can either accept the new terms, or ‘delete’ their accounts.

    The Facebook-owned app confirmed separately that all users must agree or lose access otherwise.

    In its report, WABetaInfo shared screenshots that showed that the Terms and Privacy Policy will be updated.

    It showed that key updates will include more information about WhatsApp’s service and how user data is processed.

    It will also include information on how businesses can use Facebook-hosted services to store and manage chats.

    The update announcement is followed by a disclaimer that says that the new terms will come into effect on February 8, 2021.

    Now comes the catch, as the disclaimer went on to read, “After this date, you’ll need to accept the new terms to continue using WhatsApp or you can always delete your account.”

    WABetaInfo also mentioned that the aforementioned date may be subject to change and that the updated terms of service are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

    WhatsApp spokesperson confirmed to The Independent that all users “must agree” to the new terms by February 8 next year if they wish to have continued access to the app.

  • WhatsApp works on another Telegram feature

    WhatsApp works on another Telegram feature

    WhatsApp will get another Telegram feature as the messaging platform works to make many features found in competitors such as Viber, WeChat and Signal available for its users.

    Although WhatsApp is the most used messaging application, it is still not at the desired level. WhatsApp is working on the Telegram-like disappearing message feature.

    With messaging applications being a part of our lives, the importance of privacy has started to increase.

    It has been leaked that the disappearing message feature that Telegram users have been using for a long time will soon be available in WhatsApp.

    There have been claims about this feature for a while but it is not yet known when the feature will be activated for users.

    The company announced that it will activate this feature on Android, iOS, Web and Desktop applications.

    Some of the explanations about the new feature are as follows:

    If people using the disappearing messages feature do not open the WhatsApp application within 7 days, the messages will disappear directly. However, the preview of messages may still appear in notifications.

    When you quote a message while using the disappear message feature, it may appear in the quoted part even if the original message is deleted.

    When forwarded to a chat with the disappearing message feature inactive, the other chat message remains even if the original message is deleted.

    Once the chat with the lost messages is backed up, all messages are in backup. However, lost messages are deleted when restoring from the backup.

  • Revealed: You can now mute someone’s chat forever on WhatsApp

    Revealed: You can now mute someone’s chat forever on WhatsApp

    WhatsApp, a US-run messaging service, has announced a new feature that allows users to mute a chat forever.

    The Facebook-owned company, with over two billion users worldwide, broke the news in a post on Friday.

    “You can now mute a chat forever,” it wrote on its Twitter page.

    This is an upgrade from the previous feature which allows users to mute a chat for a maximum period of one year.

    To use this feature, WhatsApp users are simply mandated to click on any chat of their choice, tap on the mute icon and then select the “Always” option.

    Once muted, you can see the “Unmute” notifications option in the chat settings instead of the “Mute” notifications option.

    The company also announced choices for users to mute chats for eight hours as well as a week.

    The development is the latest in the list of several developments introduced by the company since the dawn of the year.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that back in April, WhatsApp had increased the limit on the number of partakers allowed to use its video call feature from four to eight to improve communication amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many of us are isolated from friends and family. People all over the world are turning to voice and video calling on WhatsApp more than ever before,” the company had said.

     

  • Lady alleges leaked WASSCE answers were circulated on Nigerian WhatsApp groups

    Lady alleges leaked WASSCE answers were circulated on Nigerian WhatsApp groups

    A certain Rosemary Ajayi, digital forensic researcher, has claimed that leaked answers to some subjects at the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were being distributed across some Nigerian WhatsApp groups.

     

    Ajayi is a research director at Digital Africa Research Lab.

    In a thread on Twitter on Wednesday, the researcher said she decided to join some random Nigerian WhatsApp groups to determine people’s usage of the platform.

     

    According to her, in one of such groups, the administrators shared prepared answers to Agriculture Science as well as Economics, two subjects taken by candidates on Wednesday.

     

    She said the Agricultural Science examination — which was taken at 2pm — had barely started when “the first set of answers to the essay questions were in the WhatsApp group at 2:01pm.”

     

    “In an attempt to better understand how Nigerians use WhatsApp, I began joining random open WhatsApp groups today, 27 minutes before the start of the WASSCE Agricultural science exam, the group’s admin posted question papers,” she wrote.

     

    Ajayi also revealed that members of the group were not allowed to ask questions as the group was constituted in a manner that only admins could share messages.

    “No questions can be asked as non-admin are blocked from posting to group. Earlier, they posted photos of handwritten questions and answers for today’s economics exam. I don’t understand what the motivation is,” she wrote.

    Ajayi said such a situation inspired blockage of access to the internet during exams in Ethiopia.

    “We’re not being asked to pay to be in group. This is how the Ethiopian government justifies switching off the country’s internet during exams,” she added.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that back in 2019, the Ethiopian government blocked internet access during national examinations to restrain cheating.

     

  • Telegram launches video call service, eyes videoconferencing

    Telegram launches video call service, eyes videoconferencing

    Instant messaging app, Telegram, has launched a video call service as part of activities marking its seventh anniversary.

    In a blog post, the company said the video feature was added in response to the need for face-to-face communication as the world goes virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “2020 highlighted the need for face-to-face communication, and our alpha version of video calls is now available on both Android and iOS.

    “You can start a video call from your contact’s profile page, and switch video on or off at any time during voice calls.

    “Like all other video content on Telegram, video calls support picture-in-picture mode, allowing you to scroll through chats and multitask, while maintaining eye contact,” the company said.

    It explained that the video calls were protected with end-to-end encryption, with the security confirmed by matching emojis shown on-screen on both ends of the line.

    “If they match, your call is 100 per cent secured by time-tested encryption also used in Telegram’s Secret Chats and Voice Calls,” it added.

    The company disclosed that it was also working to add more features and improvements to the video call package, including group video calls in the coming months.

    “The upcoming feature will allow the app to jump into the videoconferencing market, which has become more crucial as people stay at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” it added.

    Telegram was founded by two Russian brothers, Nikolai and Pavel Durov, in 2013 with its headquarters in London and operational centre in Dubai.

    The company said it currently had no fewer than 400 million active users, from 100,000 as of October, 2013.

    Telegram’s video feature is coming about four years after its rival, WhatsApp, launched the same app in 2016.

  • NITDA warns against ‘panic message’ circulating on WhatsApp

    NITDA warns against ‘panic message’ circulating on WhatsApp

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has identified a file being circulated on WhatsApp tagged ‘Argentina is Doing it’, as fake news and warned the general public to avoid opening the link.

    Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations of the NITDA, who gave the warning in a statement on Saturday, warned the public to be wary of opening the message that warns recipients not to open a video file called ”Argentina Is Doing It” as it will hack their phone in 10 seconds.

    According to Umar, the message has been identified as fake, stressing that it exhibits some of the characteristics of fake/hoax messages and that those behind it gave it credibility by claiming the Cable News Network (CNN) reported it.

    “The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in line with its efforts at enlightening Nigerians on the nefarious actions of cybercriminals exploiting the COVID-19 Pandemic to mislead and defraud unsuspecting victims, would like to bring to the attention of the general public the recent COVID-19-related fake news in circulation.

    “The fake news tagged “Argentina Is Doing It”, being circulated over social media, particularly on WhatsApp, is aimed at causing panic and inducing terror in individuals. The message warns the recipient not to open a video file called ”Argentina Is Doing It” as it will hack their phone in 10 seconds. Furthermore, in order to lend credibility to the message, the message falsely claims that the Cable News Network (CNN) also reported it.

    “This message has been identified as fake as it exhibits some of the following characteristics of fake/hoax messages: the message content includes instructions to forward the message; the sender claims some kind of affiliation with a credible source or organization; the message aims to induce panic or shock the recipient, often making impossible claims or serious consequences about the effect of the virus or malicious software; and the messages contains alarming languages tending to emphasize the urgent nature of the threat.

    “The general public is therefore urged to disregard this as there is no CNN article regarding this hoax. Furthermore, the message is a variant of a similar message in circulation since 2017. NITDA calls on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the Federal Government in its efforts at containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country by not spreading fake news. We are also encouraged to strictly adhere to recommendations given by health experts, and follow updates from verified sources of the relevant agencies handling this outbreak,” Umar stated.