WhatsApp enhances photo sharing with web search capability
WhatsApp is set to receive a new feature related to sharing photos. According to ongoing tests in the beta programme, developers are working on an option to search received images online. This will allow users to conveniently access additional information, such as details about specific products from a store.
WABetaInfo discusses detailed information. The new feature involves adding another option to the context menu of received photos in WhatsApp chats. If someone sends an image in a conversation, besides the ability to save it, create a sticker from it, or edit it, the user will gain an additional "search the web" option. WhatsApp will then upload the image to Google's search engine and display the results.
This feature can be handy in a shop or during conversations about specific products with friends. Instead of using the product's name or its technical details, WhatsApp will speed up the process and help users reach contextually related websites based on the image - much like how Google Lens operates, which was recently embedded into Chrome's search bar or has been available as a separate app on Android for some time.
The new feature in WhatsApp is currently only available to a select few. Tests are ongoing, and it will take some time before it is released to regular users' smartphones. Typically, the wait for such new features lasts several weeks or, at most, a few months. WhatsApp users are advised to remain patient.
In the context of WhatsApp, it is essential to remember to focus on security from the first moment of using the application, including during activation, which uses a 6-digit code. This code plays a crucial role in user authentication; it is sent to the phone number via SMS or call. The security of this code is extremely important, as anyone who has this code can access the account.
Fraud cases where criminals extract this code are common – a scammer may claim that they accidentally entered the victim's phone number during login and then ask for the code the victim just received. If the scammer gains access to the code, they can take over the WhatsApp account, resulting in the loss of access to new messages, photos, and videos. All incoming messages would then start going to the scammer. The attacker can also impersonate the victim from that moment onwards.
