The new Code Verify extension for browsers is now official, aimed at verifying that the use of WhatsApp Web is safe , without third-party alternations. A much-needed improvement, as the security of WhatsApp has already been compromised in the past due to this online version.
Code Verify aims to check that the code has not been modified , for example, by computer malware or other installed extensions. Since WhatsApp Web runs in the browser, it is relatively easy to interfere with its operation.
Although the messages always travel encrypted, through the JavaScript code that WhatsApp Web executes, it is possible to compromise security and privacy in many aspects. By installing the Code Verify extension we will be sure that it has not been altered.
If everything is fine we will see a confirmation that says “Validated – Web page code verified” (“Validated – web page code verified”), because for now it has not been translated into Spanish:
WhatsApp has partnered with Cloudflare to power Code Verify. It is a great Internet hosting provider, which will be in charge of comparing the WhatsApp web code reviewed by the extension with the original.
Code Verify is an open source project , so other developers can freely adapt it for their own work. More importantly, anyone can drill down into the inner workings to spot problems, something the main WhatsApp app doesn’t allow.
The extension is free to download for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox , although the latter has not yet been uploaded to its add-on store.
In any case, WhatsApp has always suffered from vulnerabilities of all kinds, to the point that Pável Dúrov, founder of Telegram, accuses them of introducing them on purpose so that state security agencies can bypass encryption.
Overall, Code Verify will improve WhatsApp Web privacy , though the app’s privacy issues will take a lot more than a browser extension to fix.
- Download Code Verify for Google Chrome
- Download Code Verify for Microsoft Edge
