Use WhatsApp As a Fast and Secure Way to Transfer or Temporarily Store Files on the Internet
Finding a place where you can safely save files online or transfer them between computers is surprisingly difficult. In Digital Inspiration, Amit Agarwal uses WhatsApp as a clever workaround for storing over an encrypted connection. So you can do it too.
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption and supports two-factor authentication , making it one of the most secure messaging apps out there. It also has many features and you can send any type of file through the app. This includes photos, links, documents, and everything else. You have probably guessed where we are heading. With a few steps, you can essentially send files to yourself or create temporary secure cloud storage using WhatsApp.
It’s not as easy as just sending a message to yourself, because for some reason you can’t do it with WhatsApp. Instead, you need to create a new group with a random person and then delete them. This is a silly workaround, but it works:
- Open WhatsApp and create a new group.
- Add any random contact to the group. Keep in mind that they’ll get a notification when you do, so pick someone who doesn’t mind the slight annoyance or randomness of doing this.
- Give the group a name and save.
- Return to the group, then tap a topic to view the members. Press and hold one member and remove him from the group.
You now have an empty group that only you belong to. You are free to upload files to the group, and they are available only to you. You can access these files from your phone or from the web app . Of course, you can always email the files to yourself, or just upload them somewhere to secure cloud storage, but this is a quick, dirty and secure way to move files whenever you need to.
Using WhatsApp as a Private Store for Your Documents and Notes | Digital inspiration