WhatsApp does not erase your conversations completely – CNET in Spanish

Researchers discovered that talks deleted WhatsApp are not eliminated entirely, as a “forensic” file would reconstruct the deleted messages.

Jonathan Zdziarski, computer security researcher in iOS, published this week on his blog an article detailing these findings. Apparently, even though the talks are deleted, a file remains on the device and iCloud, which would allow anyone with access to your device or account iCloud could get that forensic file and reconstruct the conversations.

Zdziarski says the problem is not exclusive to WhatsApp, iMessage –of Apple– but also presents him. Even, the researcher says that the problem of iMessage could be worse than WhatsApp, since the file of the talks would be available in iCloud, iPad, computer or any other device where iMessages received.

According to the researcher, the problem is not Apple, WhatsApp or Facebook. The vulnerability lies in SQLite, a library used to create these applications, since it is programmed to only delete those files when you no longer have storage space. SQLite is sponsored by Facebook, Bloomberg and Mozilla, among others.

Spanish CNET contacted Apple and Facebook (owner of WhatsApp) to request information. Update this article to answer.

WhatsApp: do not panic

While thinking about a third party to get your conversation history sounds like something creepy, Zdziarski says it is not so simple rebuild chats, taking into account that to do so you need access to your device and then back up to iCloud, or failing that, to the backup in iTunes.

However, there are also precautions. The researcher recommends encrypt (or encrypt) the backups in iCloud and / or iTunes and do not store the password in the Keychain passwords Apple.

Zdziarski also recommends removing the application of WhatsApp for iOS periodically, although this only ensures the elimination of chats on the side of WhatsApp, but the coroner will file in iCloud backup.