Yes, WhatsApp statuses are end-to-end encrypted. This means the content of your status updates is protected from third parties viewing it.
How WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption for statuses works
When you post a status update on WhatsApp, the content is encrypted on your device before being sent to WhatsApp’s servers. The encryption keys are stored only on your device and the devices of the contacts you share your status with. This prevents anyone else, including WhatsApp itself, from being able to view the decrypted content of your status update.
Specifically, here is what happens when you post a status:
- Your status content (photo, video, text, etc.) is encrypted locally using the Signal Protocol.
- The encrypted status data is sent to WhatsApp’s servers and stored there in encrypted form.
- The encryption keys are shared only with your contacts after you post the status.
- When your contacts view your status, their apps fetch the encrypted data from WhatsApp’s servers.
- Their apps then decrypt the data locally using the encryption keys you shared.
This encrypted transfer and storage prevents third parties, including WhatsApp itself, from accessing your status content.
Advantages of end-to-end encrypted statuses
End-to-end encrypting statuses has several security and privacy advantages:
- Privacy – Only you and your intended recipients can view your status content. Nobody else, including hackers, can access it.
- Data security – Statuses are encrypted in transit and storage, protecting against data leaks.
- User control – You choose exactly who can view your status by sharing keys only with selected contacts.
What is not encrypted in WhatsApp statuses
While the content of your status update itself is encrypted, some related metadata is not encrypted. This includes:
- Your profile picture and name, which are visible to contacts when viewing your status.
- The time and date of your status update.
- The fact that your status was updated.
- Which contacts view your status update.
So while the actual photos, videos, and texts in your status are encrypted, some high-level metadata about your status activity remains visible to WhatsApp.
Status privacy settings
In your WhatsApp privacy settings, you can control exactly who can view your status updates:
- Everyone – Any of your WhatsApp contacts can view your status.
- My Contacts – Only the contacts in your address book can view status.
- My Contacts Except… – Block specific contacts from seeing status.
- Only Share With… – Choose specific contacts who can view status.
These settings allow you to share your encrypted status selectively. Even if someone can see your status, they won’t be able to decrypt the content without the encryption keys.
Status encryption and the Signal Protocol
WhatsApp statuses are encrypted using the same Signal Protocol that secures WhatsApp chats and calls. The Signal Protocol uses end-to-end encryption to secure real-time communication between devices.
Developed by Open Whisper Systems, the Signal Protocol uses strong 256-bit AES symmetric encryption, Diffie-Hellman key exchange, HKDF key derivation, and other advanced cryptographic techniques to achieve functional encryption for statuses and other WhatsApp data.
Verifying safety number changes
Like all end-to-end encrypted WhatsApp communications, your encrypted status keys are protected by the contacts in your address book. If one of your contact’s security codes change, this could indicate an attempt by a third party to intercept status updates or insert a new public key to access them.
If you receive a notice that a contact’s security code has changed, verify the change is legitimate with the contact through a different communications channel before continuing to share status updates with them.
Backups are not end-to-end encrypted
While status content is encrypted end-to-end between you and your recipients, WhatsApp backups to services like iCloud and Google Drive are not protected by end-to-end encryption. So backed up status content could be accessed by third parties with access to your cloud backups.
For maximum security, avoid using cloud backups or back up only when necessary, then delete the backup from the cloud after restoring to a new device.
Risks of unsupported apps
To maintain end-to-end encryption, only use the official WhatsApp app from the app store on your device. Unsupported third party apps cannot provide the same level of security and encryption.
Conclusion
End-to-end encryption provides WhatsApp status updates with a high level of privacy and security. Only you and recipients you intentionally share your status with can view the decrypted content.
However, some unencrypted metadata remains visible to WhatsApp. For maximum security, be thoughtful about who you share status updates with and avoid insecure backups.
Overall, thanks to end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp status updates are much more private and secure compared to status on other social platforms. Users can share momentary updates with their close contacts safely and confidentially.