WhatsApp gets proxy login feature, right in the smartphone app

WhatsApp is adding a dedicated proxy login feature to its Android and iOS app, to be used for bypassing censorship in regions where WhatsApp services are blocked by internet providers.

The new functionality will be found in the app’s settings regardless of the geographic region you’re in, with users able to forward the connection through proxy servers hosted by volunteers and various organizations. The steps required to enable this feature are detailed in a guide available on the WhatsApp website, and the changes are simple to make even for uninitiated users.

Steps to connect to a WhatsApp proxy on Android

• Make sure you are using the latest version of the app
• From the Chats tab, choose More options / Settings
• Tap Storage and Data > Proxy
• Tap Use Proxy and enter the proxy server address
• Use the Save option to apply changes

Connecting a proxy from iPhone

• Upgrade to the latest version of WhatsApp.
• Go to the Settings menu and then Storage and Data / Proxy
• Check Use Proxy
• Tap Use Proxy and enter the proxy server address
• Use the Save option to apply changes

As with normal use of the application, connections mediated through proxy servers remain protected with end-to-end encryption and should provide the same level of protection against interception.

Unlike other proxy services that can be set at the device level, the proxy function integrated with the WhatsApp client is completely free and ready to use immediately.