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Internet phone calls are widely popular as one of the advanced technology's features. Users find it convenient to make an online voice call on a third-party app via internet connection. This makes WhatsApp voice-calling feature, which was introduced in 2015, so important.

Many of you must have WhatsApp installed on your smartphones. The app lets you connect with friends, family, or colleagues -especially in the novel coronavirus situation when we have opted for remote work strategies. So I'm assuming that at least for once, you must have tried a WhatsApp voice-call feature.

Now, the question is -did you ever notice the 'End-to-End Encrypted' flag on the top while making a WhatsApp call? If yes, and wondered what it means, then this article is exactly for you. If not, then you are going to learn something new today!

WhatsApp Messenger, or WhatsApp, is a free application for communication using an internet connection. The app was developed in the US and introduced in 2009. Later, in the year 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by social media giant Facebook. Using this freeware, the end user can send both text and audio messages, share images, videos, links, documents like PDF files, or spread sheets, user location and contacts.

To enhance the user experience while chatting with a person on WhatsApp, the app has some fun elements to choose from like GIFs, stickers, and emoticons. Other tools of communication on WhatsApp include voice calls, and video chats.

WhatsApp bundles supplementary features such as putting up a status, something like Instagram stories or Twitter's Fleets, making payments and more.

For Android users, you can download the app from Google's PlayStore. For the iOS platform, WhatsApp can be installed via the App Store.

A WhatsApp call has many benefits, over cellular calling, and one of them is being cost-effective. If your smartphone has an internet data plan, or is connected with WiFi, you can make a free call on WhatsApp including international calls. Other benefits include:

> WhatsApp calls cannot be recorded. Though this can be both in favour, or against the application.> Callers cannot be tracked if they are using WhatsApp Calling feature.> You can pick up on the contact numbers of a group voice-call members.

Note: WhatsApp voice-calling feature isn't applicable for emergency numbers/services.

Follow the steps:

1. Open the Whatsapp Messenger on your smartphone.2. Click on the person's profile picture whom you want to call, and there you find a Call icon. Alternatively, click on the chat window of the person you want to call, and you'll find a Call icon on the top right next to Settings option.3. Once you see the Call icon, tap on it, and it starts ringing.

A WhatsApp call is easy-to-do and as mentioned, has certain benefits. But did you ever think of its downside? What if WhatsApp is breaching privacy when you are sharing an internet call? What if the company is listening to customers' voice recordings?

Throughout your WhatsApp call, you will see a label on the display of your phone which says End-to-End Encrypted. The text written in a smaller font is accompanied with a Lock icon. This is nothing more than an advanced security feature from WhatsApp.

End-to-End Encryption assures that all the messages and calls are converted into a code while following encryption protocols. This way, the data you share online while communicating is all safe and secure. WhatsApp provides End-to-End Encryption for its users in order to have secure phone conversations. It is similar to Apple's iMessage and Signal.

"Messages to this chat and calls are secured with end-to-end encryption", notes the app. All the texts and calls flowing through the platform are secured, and can only be viewed either by the sender, or the recipient. The WhatsApp Messenger cannot read messages, or record your calls.

It's very easy to find out if your WhatsApp messages and calls are encrypted. Follow the steps:

1. Open the Whatsapp application on your smartphone.2. Go to any person's WhatsApp profile.3. There you'll find a section named Encryption. Tap on it.4. A barcode will appear. You can now scan the code to verify if the texts and calls with the person are end-to-end encrypted, or not. But note that you will require the same person's WhatsApp barcode for the scanning.

More here:
Explained: WhatApp calls End-to-End Encrypted, but what does it mean for you? - India Today