WhatsApp Rolls Out Proxy Support to Help Users Circumvent Internet Shutdowns

WhatsApp is implementing proxy support to let users connect to the service even if the connection is restricted, according to an announcement by Meta, which owns the messaging platform.

Internet shutdowns or government censorship could hamper users’ access to specific online services. The proxy rollout is an important step in ensuring that users can stay connected to the messaging platform regardless of artificial restrictions on the connection.

Meta said the update won’t affect WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, and the content of the messages won’t be visible to the proxy provider.

“Connecting via proxy maintains the high level of privacy and security that WhatsApp provides,” reads Meta’s announcement. “Your personal messages will still be protected by end-to-end encryption — ensuring they stay between you and the person you’re communicating with and are not visible to anyone in between, not the proxy servers, WhatsApp, or Meta.”

The feature is only available to users running the latest version of WhatsApp on Android and iOS. Connecting to WhatsApp through a proxy server can be achieved in a few steps:

1. Update to the latest version of WhatsApp
2. Open the app’s Settings menu
3. Access the Storage and Data > Proxy menu
4. Tap the Use Proxy button
5. Type the proxy address in the appropriate field
6. Tap the Save button to confirm your configuration options

When you connect, you should see a green check mark. If you can’t send or receive messages using a proxy, the server may be blocked; switching to a different server could fix the issue.

It’s worth mentioning that Meta doesn’t offer actual proxy servers for users to connect to. However, the company included instructions on setting up proxy servers and helping others connect to the service freely and securely. Note that using a third-party proxy will expose your IP address to the proxy server’s owner, so use a trustworthy provider.

Although proxies are quite effective against Internet censorship and restrictions, they can’t protect your privacy entirely like a VPN can. Most proxy servers won’t encrypt your traffic and are more likely to be subject to eavesdropping.

Dedicated privacy services such as Bitdefender VPN can help you dodge unfair restrictions on the Internet while keeping you anonymous. Key features include:

• Cloaks your IP address, preventing entities from linking you to your online activity
• Secures your traffic on public networks to prevent targeted attacks and traffic monitoring
• Lets you access geo-restricted content, including WhatsApp and other limited websites and services
• Bypass ISP bandwidth throttling and other artificially imposed limitations on your connection