WhatsApp introduces image search: A new era of photo sharing
WhatsApp is set to receive a new feature related to photo sharing. As per ongoing tests in the beta program, 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 an 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 especially helpful in a store or during conversations about specific products with friends. Instead of using the product's name or technical details, WhatsApp will speed up the process and help connect users with contextually related websites based on the image—similar to how Google Lens works, which was recently integrated into Chrome's search bar and has long been available as a separate app on Android.
Understandably, the new feature in WhatsApp is available to only a few users at the moment. Tests are ongoing, and it will take some time before regular users can expect its release on their smartphones. Typically, the wait for such new features lasts several weeks, or at most a few months. WhatsApp users are advised to be patient.
In the context of WhatsApp, it's essential to remember security from the first moment of using the application, including during activation, which uses a 6-digit code. This code is crucial for user authorization and is sent to the phone number via SMS or call. The security of this code is essential, as anyone with access to it can access the account.
Fraud cases where criminals extract this code are common—a scammer may claim 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 loss of access to new messages, photos, and videos. All incoming messages start being sent to the scammer. The attacker can also impersonate the victim from that point on.
