Whatsapp Sniffer for Android
Whatsapp Sniffer is an app able to display messages from other WhatsApp users connected to the same network as the app user. The tool diverts all data traffic on, for example, a Wi-Fi network through the user's smartphone and seeks out WhatsApp messages, which are transferred in plain text. All the user requires is a rooted Android smartphone.
The WhatsApp messaging
service has established itself as an alternative to texting between
smartphone users, because, unlike text messages, users only have to pay
for data use. And if a user is in range of a free Wi-Fi point, then it
is free to use.
But
on public Wi-Fi networks, using WhatsApp turns out to be a very bad
idea. Unlike, for example, iMessage, WhatsApp messages are transmitted
in plain text, meaning that curious eavesdroppers, along with the
intended recipient, can read them.
What
previously would have required the use of a range of tools and some
basic networking knowledge can now be performed at a stroke using
WhatsApp Sniffer. The only way for users who have installed WhatsApp to
avoid this is to refrain from using it on any Wi-Fi network that
potentially untrusted users could be connected to.
The
app uses ARP spoofing to divert all local network traffic through the
smartphone. If it finds WhatsApp messages in this traffic, it displays
them in a user-friendly conversation-style view. It displays both
incoming and outgoing messages and can also display photos and video. A
short test by The H's associates at heise Security found that the tool performed just as promised.
WhatsApp
Sniffer was originally available to download from Google Play, but was
removed a few days ago. This may slow down its dissemination, but it is
not going to stop it altogether – a search on Google quickly unearths
the APK installation file. TheDroidSheep app,
which allows users to intercept Facebook sessions and other web
services, was also recently removed from Google Play, but is still
proving popular
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