WhatsApp has reportedly fixed a bug that allowed indefinite viewing of View-Once media
Introduction to WhatsApp’s ‘View Once’ Feature
WhatsApp introduced the ‘View Once’ feature for photos and videos in August 2021, allowing users to share media that disappears after being viewed once. The feature was later extended to voice messages in December 2023. To enable the feature, the sender simply needs to tap the ‘1’ icon before sharing the media.
Concerns Over Bug in View-Once Feature
Recently, concerns arose regarding a bug in the ‘View Once’ feature that allowed recipients to access the media even after it was supposed to disappear. A report by Android Police highlighted this vulnerability in the iOS version of WhatsApp, but not in the Android version.
The report detailed a workaround for iOS users to view the ‘View Once’ media multiple times by accessing storage settings. However, the report also noted that the bug seemed to have been quietly fixed by Meta over the weekend without any public announcement.
Fixing the Bug and Addressing Similar Issues
The Android Police team confirmed that the bug that allowed repeated viewing of ‘View Once’ media was no longer functional, indicating that Meta had indeed addressed the issue. Additionally, a similar issue was reported for WhatsApp Web users in September 2024, where users were able to view and save the disappearing media. This issue was also resolved by December of the same year.
It is important to note that WhatsApp has not made any official statement regarding these bugs and their fixes. Users are advised to keep their apps updated to ensure they are protected from any potential vulnerabilities.
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