WhatsApp Launches Privacy-Focused Call Relay Feature for iOS and Android

Good news for WhatsApp users, this meta-owned instant messaging app has released a new option that makes it harder for malicious attackers to deduce your location by shielding your IP address in calls.

According to a report by WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo, this feature allows users to add an extra layer of security to their calls by shielding their IP address and location from malicious attackers.

“Thanks to the latest updates to WhatsApp beta on TestFlight for iOS and WhatsApp beta on Android from the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a new privacy call forwarding feature for some beta testers,” the report states.

According to the report, the privacy settings screen has a new section called “Advanced Settings”. This new section includes a new Protected IP address in call option, which makes it harder for people in the call to safely infer your location through WhatsApp servers.

“It is very important to note that the privacy call forwarding feature may slightly affect call quality due to the encryption and routing processes of your connection during the call through the WhatsApp servers,” WABetaInfo said.

The report suggested that this feature is very useful for potential attempts to track your location and IP address, especially when you are on a WhatsApp call with unknown contacts, as it makes it difficult to track private information.

Despite the possible loss of call quality, this extra layer of protection ensures that your privacy is maintained even when communicating with unknown contacts you don’t know.

The latest privacy feature, designed to protect your IP address during calls, is now available to select beta testers who have installed the latest WhatsApp beta on Android via the Google Play Store and on iOS via the TestFlight app. The report also revealed that it is coming to more users in the coming days.