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Amidst cybercrimes and data security fears, a troubling viral message has been circulating on the internet, alarming people about the alleged monitoring of WhatsApp chats by the government.
The message claimed that the appearance of "three ticks" in WhatsApp chats signifies that the conversations are being monitored. However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has categorically clarified that this claim is entirely false, and the government has issued no such guidelines.
WhatsApp's End-to-End Encryption Provides Security
The PIB's statement reassures users that WhatsApp chats are secure, thanks to the platform's "end-to-end encryption" feature. This encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient can read or listen to the messages exchanged, with no access granted to any intermediaries, not even WhatsApp itself.
The viral message purportedly explained the meaning of different check marks or ticks on WhatsApp chats, stating that a single tick confirms a successful message delivery, while a double tick indicates that the message has been delivered. If these tick marks turn blue, it means the chat has been read. It further claimed that two blue ticks and one red tick signal government data screening, and "three red ticks" suggest that action has been initiated against the users.
Notably, this is not the first time such a claim has surfaced. Last year in August, the PIB had already assured users that no such guidelines were issued then, and the same holds true now. Therefore, WhatsApp users can rest assured that their personal chats remain secure, and there is no need to enable any special settings for added protection.
With the government's debunking of the viral message, users can continue to use WhatsApp with confidence, knowing that their private conversations are shielded from prying eyes by robust end-to-end encryption. As misinformation spreads, it is crucial to rely on official sources for accurate information and not fall prey to baseless rumors.