On January 5, WhatsApp revealed a new feature that enables users to connect via proxy servers so they may continue using the service even when the internet is restricted or disrupted by shutdowns.
Concept of Whatsapp proxy
When selecting a proxy, users can connect to WhatsApp via servers run by individuals and groups devoted to promoting free speech throughout the world. According to WhatsApp, using a proxy connection preserves the app's privacy and security settings, and end-to-end encryption will continue to secure private conversations. As per the firm, neither the proxy servers, WhatsApp, nor Meta will be able to see the communications that are sent between them.
When it comes to assisting users when WhatsApp is prohibited in a country, the messaging service stated, "If WhatsApp is restricted in your nation, you can utilize a proxy to connect and communicate with loved ones. End-to-end encryption will still be used to protect private communications while using a proxy connection to WhatsApp."
In accordance with the new rules, internet service providers had to remove anything that law enforcement regarded to be illegal and cooperate with police investigations, which included locating the authors of malicious materials.WhatsApp countered this claim by saying that it will continue to secure users' private messages and would not compromise their security for any government.
According to Juras Jurnas of the proxy and online data collecting company Oxylabs, "For persons with government restrictions on internet access, such as was the situation with Iran, utilization of a proxy server can help people keep a connection to WhatsApp as well as the rest of the public, internet free."
After activists in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while in police detention, the Iranian government restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp last year. The suspension of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution by the Indian Parliament resulted in a shutdown of the internet in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. This state-imposed lockdown was implemented as a precautionary measure. Only two districts, Ganderbal and Udampur, have 4G availability. After 552 days without internet or with slow internet, the former state was finally connected to 4G on February 6th, 2021.
Kaspersky's VPN Secure Connection for Microsoft Windows has a local privilege-escalation (LPE) vulnerability that could allow an already-authenticated hacker to access administrative privileges and potentially seize total control of a victim's computer.
Researchers disagree over the bug's CVSS score, which is tracked as CVE-2022-27535. The bug has a high-severity CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 as per a Synopsys alert published, but Kaspersky scores it as moderate with a 5.0 CVSS level.
In either case, it is present in the Support Tools section of the app and would enable root access to Server, the highest level possible in the Windows environment, allowing an authenticated hacker to delete any file at will from the system.
The Kaspersky team has fixed a flaw in the Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection that was exploited by an authorized hacker to trigger arbitrary file deletion on the host. It might result in device malfunction or the deletion of crucial system files necessary for proper system operation.
An attacker needed to create a specific file and persuade customers to utilize the 'Delete all service data and reports' or 'Save report on your computer' product capabilities in order to carry out this attack.
Users should upgrade to version 21.6 or later to patch their systems because Kaspersky has solved the problem.