WhatsApp’s new feature can detect suspicious, shady links

Social media site WhatsApp is testing a new feature of detecting spam links in an effort to protect users and fight against phishy links.

The feature, currently in tests, can detect suspicious links within messages. The feature will warn users before they click the link. The new feature has been in rumors since few days until now, when a WhatsApp representative confirmed the news to Mashable.

The feature is aimed at particular type of exploitation favored by spammers and phishers, including links that mimic authentic URLs by making use of characters from other alphabets that appear to be similar to other letters.

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In the picture, the URL is similar to the legitimate URL, but the ‘w’ character is a different letter with a tiny dot under it. This method called ‘IDN homograph attack’ is usually used by spammers and is often ignored by users.

“This link contains unusual characters. It may be trying to appear as another site,” reads a second warning upon tapping the link in question, Android Authority wrote, citing the reliable WhatsApp leaker, WABetaInfo.

The new feature will warn users with a red notification reading ‘Suspicious link’ when it detects something unusual. A spokesperson said, “To protect your privacy, these checks take place entirely on your device, and because of end-to-end encryption WhatsApp can’t see the content of your messages.”

The feature has already started to roll out for WhatsApp beta testers on Thursday.