Whatsapp will no longer allow screenshots for View Once messages! Do you think this was necessary for individual privacy?

[gayesblog]

In August, WhatsApp announced that they will no longer allow Screenshot for the “View Once” messages. And they announced that they will implement this feature in the near future. Do you think such an update was necessary, what is your opinion?

[Apulu_Imback]

That's safe actually, say it was an password, it shouldn't be stored by someone. Private pictures that one doesn't wants to show others more often. However the phone which I used captured screenshot in such a way that it didn't matter if such restrictions are implemented.

[Valso]

I don't use anything related to Fecesbook (WhatsApp is Fecesbook's application) but even if I did, I don't see how they would stop me from taking screenshots.

On a smartphone they'll have to permanently disable the screenshot function which comes from the Android developer and they might have some questionable success in disabling it.

But on a desktop - not a chance for success there! 🤣 Especially on Linux - there's no such a thing as "no can do" on Linux. If I wanna take a screenshot of something, nobody and nothing can stop me! For instance, VirtualBox doesn't allow screenshots to be taken the traditional way and you have to manually navigate the menus for that. But I found an easier (and lazier) way.
So even if I were using WhatsApp, I'm pretty sure I'd find a way around that prohibition of Fecesbook and there's nothing they could do stop me.

[Guardian45]

Can you explain?

[Valso]

@Guardian45 Explain what?

[Guardian45]

VirtualBox

[Valso]

@Guardian45 The stupid virtualbox refuses to run right now, so I can't show you screenshots. Hopefully my explanation in words will be enough.

As you probably know, virtualbox doesn't allow screenshots to be taken the traditional way (with PrntScrn) in the window with your virtual machine. The trick is to find a small window app which to run in foreground - on top of the virtual machine window. For instance, I use a small application from KDE (altough my desktop isn't KDE) called KColorChooser. Its window is small and its size is fixed. Open that on top of the VM window, move it aside, so that it doesn't cover the VM area and then press PrntScrn - and it works! That's a lot easier than having to dig into virtualbox menus to find the option for taking screenshots from the running VM. After taking the screenshot it's just a matter of cropping it in order to remove the small app from the image.

[Guardian45]

Kewl! Thank you

[TheSpaceGnome]

I don't use whatsapp, but there isn't a way to prevent screenshotting without hijacking the device's operating system, which is prevented on ios devices by sandboxing, so despite their claim that they are preventing screenshots, they can't actually do that.

[Guardian45]

Can you explain?

[TheSpaceGnome]

I did, what part was not explained well enough?

[Guardian45]

What is sandboxing?

[TheSpaceGnome]

@Guardian45 it's when an operating system's design restricts an application's access to core elements of the operating system and hardware, as well restricting it's access as to other applications.

It's putting the app in its own private box where it can do fuck all to anything on its own. even the few things it can access, like microphone, camera, photos, location, etc, have to be activated manually by the user because the app can't access anything on its own, and even then, the user can deny access later at any time by switching any of those privilages off.

Because screenshotting is done by pressing on hardware buttons and uses core os elements, no app can ever prevent it in an ios device, there is also no setting to manually allow preventing screenshots either.

[Guardian45]

Thank you

[Talldutchie]

Yes! Basically you had enough time to take screenshots, whereas the whole point is not to send these type of messages further. So, I do believe it is a great option :)

[Moose304]

I don't use whatsapp and never will. The app can't stop the device's operating system from taking a screenshot. What they most likely disabled is the option to take a screenshot from within the app.

[ChillaxingLove]

WhatsApp is owned by China based company. We all know how big on “privacy” that country is with its citizens.

[SeriouslyFunny00]

Whatsapp: *stops screenshot*

Me: *takes picture with another phone* 😜

[AndrésC64]

Exactly.

[A_Bell]

Two phones, take a photo of the screen. Nothing sent over the internet is guarenteed to be viewed once.

[jshm2]

Much of a muchness. You can still use other apps to take the screenshots. But I suppose Whatsapp is trying to cover itself.

[AndrésC64]

Dumb and pointless. All you need is another phone/camera. I don't use WhatsApp, but there are even screen recording apps that might work. I don't know though.

[Likes2drive]

Not sure why that’s necessary because if you really wanted to take a picture that badly you could just use another camera

[Marklaw12]

No. Not at all..

You can delete messages now even if you've read them.

You can't keep records which gives room to easy denials

[Guardian45]

I've never liked WhatsApp, and this is just one more reason to leave it behind!

[Anonymous]

WhatsApp is Facebook and Facebook is the opposite of privacy.

[Anonymous]

Interestingly, as someone who has the job i have, Someone will always find a way around it.

[Noahzaid]

I think it serves the point of it.

[Anonymous]

What? People actually use Whatsapp?

[MystiKaL]

Most people I know do use it.

[Guardian45]

Most I know, don't!

[LavLavLuv]

I don’t use that feature

[MadClown]

Yes, it makes sense.

[BLP11520]

Not sure, new to that app