WhatsApp Messages Deleted by You in Your Mobile are not Really Deleted
According to Jonathan
Zdziarski, an iOS researcher, WhatsApp keeps chat logs even if those chats were
deleted by the user. It is a potential loophole that can be exploited by
malicious hackers.
Zdziarski discovered
the issue on examining the disk images taken from WhatsApp. The latest version
of this app was used. He found that the software stores and retains a forensic
trace of each chat log even after they have been deleted by the app. This
results in the creation of a
database of information which can be exploited by anyone who gets physical
access to that specific device. It is also possible to recover the samedata by means of any remote backup systems used by
the device.
Zdziarski says there’s no need to panic, but it is
important to be aware of your WhatsApp “footprint.”WhatsApp
could easily resolve this issue in a number of ways through software
development, according to Zdziarski, who pointed out the SQLite database can be
marked in such a way that it will not be backed up.
He points out that the one way to be certain your deleted
messages are really gone forever is to delete the app entirely.WhatsApp
guidelines state that deleted messages are permanently wiped from your phone.
The messaging giant has yet to comment on Zdziarski’s claims.