WhatsApp Proxy Servers: Users can now chat easily even after internet shutdown
WhatsApp Proxy servers: New feature for Whatsapp users
As our dependency on the internet is increasing on daily basis, a few governments across the world are using internet shutdown as a powerful tool to overpower defiance.
With internet shutdown, governments restrict specific websites and social platforms like, Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and others.
The internet shutdowns are done in accordance to supress the voice of public and make them unable to communicate. To exemplify, in Iran, internet service was shutdown to suppress the voice of women who were protesting against hijab.
This is when Whatsapp new feature comes in. To help users to communicate during an internet shutdown, WhatsApp has rolled out proxy support for WhatsApp users all over the world.
This means WhatsApp will allow users to continue using the app even if the app’s service has been blocked by the government.
The Meta Company in a blog post wrote that it is launching proxy support for WhatsApp users all over the world. The company calls the move a means to put power into users’ hands to maintain access to WhatsApp if their connection is blocked or disrupted. It further informs that using proxy server wouldn’t impact the privacy of the message shared across chat.
What is WhatsApp proxy support and how does it work
As the name suggests, proxy support allows users to connect to WhatsApp through servers set up by volunteers and organisations around the world. If you have internet access, you can search through social media or search engines for trusted sources that have created a proxy.
Proxy servers are one of the ways how world is finding ways to get around the censorship. It basically lets you bypass the censorship by rerouting the traffic through another server.
To know how to connect to a proxy server for WhatsApp, follow these steps:
How to connect to proxy on Android phone
In the Chats tab, click on More options > Settings.
Click on Storage and Data > Proxy.
Then click on Use Proxy.
Click on Set Proxy and enter the proxy address.
At last click on Save.
A check mark will show if the connection is successful.
If you are still unable to send or receive WhatsApp messages using a proxy that proxy may have been blocked. You can long press the blocked proxy address to delete it, and then enter a new proxy address to try again.
How to connect to proxy on Apple iPhone
Go to WhatsApp Settings.
Click on Storage and Data > Proxy.
Further click on Use Proxy.
Enter the proxy address and tap Save to connect.
A check mark will show if the connection is successful.
If you are still unable to send or receive WhatsApp messages using a proxy, that proxy may have been blocked. Try again using a different proxy address.
According to WhatsApp’s blog, “Connecting via proxy maintains the high level of privacy and security that WhatsApp provides. 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.”
It is worth noting that use of a third-party proxy will share your IP address with the proxy provider. Third-party proxies aren’t provided by WhatsApp.
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