How to Read Encrypted WhatsApp Messages: Key Tips And Techniques

WhatsApp is quietly popular for its robust security. Its end-to-end encryption (E2EE), means access to messages only extends to the sender and recipient. This would even mean that WhatsApp itself can’t intercept conversations. While that’s good protection against unauthorized access, it bears questions how encrypted messages work and whether it is possible to read them without permission.

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Some users may be interested in knowing whether by passing this encryption and viewing their friend’s messages is possible. We will try to look more closely at the actual technicalities of WhatsApp encryption and useful methods of how to read encrypted WhatsApp messages.

What is Encryption?

End-to-end encryption is a security technique that encrypts data on the sender’s device and decrypts it on the receiver’s side. Thus, it ensures the information will not be accessed during its movement from the sender to the receiver. On the other hand, with traditional encryption, third parties, including the service provider, may access data sent, that is why WhatsApp uses advanced end-to-end encryption methods in which the service provider can also not access the messages.

How To Read Encrypted WhatsApp Messages?

If you are a parent or someone’s guardian and want to track WhatsApp activities. These techniques will you to track all the WhatsApp activities and the user can read the encrypted WhatsApp messages. Here are effective techniques:

1. Read The Encrypted WhatsApp Messages Through WhatsApp Web

WhatsApp Web enables users to access messages from their computer or laptop, and even control them while synced to the WhatsApp application on their cell phone. In this case, the end-to-end encryption on the messages still applies, but decryption is only done on the cell phone and not on the computer. In turn, the messages can be read only by the phone and the recipient.

It is the simplest method of reading encrypted WhatsApp messages user needs to just log in to WhatsApp Web, and follow these steps:

Open WhatsApp Web: In the browser on the computer, go to WhatsApp Web.
Open WhatsApp on Your Phone: Open WhatsApp on your phone and tap the three dots (Android) or “Settings” (iPhone).
Tap WhatsApp Web/Desktop: Now from the menu tap WhatsApp Web/Desktop.
Scan the QR Code: Using Your Phone’s Camera scan the QR code that displays on your computer screen with the phone’s camera.

2. Using the Airdroid Parental Control Application

This parental control application is designed to monitor digital activity amongst children, specifically the sending and receiving of messages on certain applications such as WhatsApp. It can do so either by having direct access to the data of the phone or by monitoring the screens of the phone.

This parental control app claims to have features like monitoring application usage, limiting screen time, keeping tabs on the child’s location, and allowing parents to view their messages, call logs, and social media activities. This app does not break WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption but could allow parents to view the content of messages by tracking data before it is encrypted or by controlling backups.

It makes remote monitoring of activity through an online dashboard in real-time with access to any data collected. Here is the process to use the parental control application.

Here is the process of how to read encrypted WhatsApp messages using a third-party application.

Download AirDroid Parental Control: Download and install the AirDroid Parental Control app on your device using Google Play Store for Android and Apple App Store for iOS.

Create An Account: After downloading, open the app, click on the sign-up page, and create a new account; upon creation, log into the system.

Download AirDroid Kids: First, you must download and install the application AirDroid Kids on the device of the child whose WhatsApp messages you wish to track.

Pairing: You can open the application AirDroid Parental Control on your device, generate a pairing code in the application, and after that pair your device with the child’s device.

Adjust Settings: Set up monitoring preferences and permissions according to your needs. You can track location, view sent and received WhatsApp media, and detect harmful or inappropriate content.

Start Monitoring: Once you set everything up, you can start tracking the child’s device from anywhere by using the parental control dashboard. In this way, see what’s happening on their WhatsApp and keep them safe online.

3. How To Read Encrypted WhatsApp Messages by Decrypting Databases on PC (Root Required)

This requires the rooting of an Android device to have access to encrypted WhatsApp files. Now, third-party apps like WhatsApp Viewer and some decryption on the computer will help in reading the chats. Let’s see how to do this.

Step 1: Open File Manager on your mobile phone.

Step 2: Search for WhatsApp messages backup files:

On Storage of the Phone: Internal Storage → WhatsApp → Databases
On SD Card: SD Card → WhatsApp → Databases

Step 3: Connect the phone using the proper cable to a computer.

Step 4: Locate the Databases folder and the Files folder.

Step 5: Find the Key file and copy it into a folder on your computer.

Step 6: Copy the msgstore.db.cryptX file to the same folder where the Key file is.

Step 7: Start WhatsApp Viewer on your computer.

Step 8: From the File menu, open Decrypt.crypt12.

Step 9: Load the two copied files from the computer.

Step 10: Click OK and wait for decryption to be processed.

Step 11: Open the folder and find msgstore.decrypted.db.

Step 12: Select the new file through the File menu and click OK.

Step 13: Hit on the contact from the right panel and the chats will come on the left panel.

4. Recover WhatsApp Deleted Messages

If you want to read the deleted encrypted WhatsApp messages. Following these steps will help you retrieve the deleted WhatsApp messages and give an overview of how to read encrypted WhatsApp messages.

Connect the cell phone to the computer
Launch the backup app then tap on Backup and Restore > Deleted WhatsApp Data Restore > Restore on PC.
On your cell phone, go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup then turn off the automatic backup.
Press restore- Tap Restore.
Delete and reinstall WhatsApp from your phone and allow access to photos, contacts, files, and more.
Login to the WhatsApp application, tap Next and then restore all your restored files.
This will recover the deleted WhatsApp messages from your backup.

Why Are WhatsApp Messages Encrypted?

WhatsApp uses E2EE(End-to-end encryption) to ensure that your data is not accessed, which it claims protects the privacy and security of its users. All photographs, videos, messages, calls, documents, and stories are encrypted, meaning hackers or cybercriminals will not have a chance of misusing them.

Encryption ensures that your calls and messages are not accessible to governments, as well as service providers ensuring that privacy remains.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

Accessing someone else’s WhatsApp messages is unethical and illegal. Privacy rights are abused in the process, and further criminal charges may apply depending on the jurisdiction. Even if a parent is surveilling his or her child, boundaries must be respected and openness maintained. Always practice ethics and follow privacy laws to avoid taking wrongful steps.

Sum-up | How To Read Encrypted WhatsApp Messages

Reading private WhatsApp messages without the sender’s consent is not technically simple and carries significant ethical and legal risks. Tools that can enable unauthorized access to other’s work on different levels against privacy and security. Thus, respect for the user’s private information should always come first, but not at the expense of the law and ethics.

FAQs

1. Is encryption 100% secure?

Ans. While end-to-end encryption is highly secure, no system is foolproof. Vulnerabilities may be lurking, but WhatsApp constantly updates its measures to protect privacy.