WhatsApp monitoring with Data Loss Prevention

Products

• Data Loss Prevention Endpoint Prevent
• Data Loss Prevention Cloud Detection Service for ICAP
• Data Loss Prevention
• Data Loss Prevention Cloud Detection Service
• Data Loss Prevention Network Monitor
• Data Loss Prevention Network Monitor and Prevent for Web
• Data Loss Prevention Network Prevent for Web Virtual Appliance
• Data Loss Prevention Network Web

Issue/Introduction

Can DLP monitor WhatsApp on the Endpoint agent or on DLP Web Prevent?

Whatsapp is mostly used on Mobile devices. You can use WhatsApp on your laptop or desktop computer using the WhatsApp Web or Desktop app.

Environment

Data Loss Prevention Endpoint Agent 

Data Loss Prevention Web Prevent 

Data Loss Prevention Cloud Detection Service for Web Security Service (WSS)

Cause

WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to secure your chats, which means that only you and the person you're communicating with can read the messages, and no one else; including WhatsApp. 

Resolution

Whatsapp Monitoring on Endpoint Agent: 

• Whatsapp Web: By using Chrome or Edge browsers, you can monitor and block file uploads on WhatsApp web. This is made possible through the detection capabilities of DLP, which allows the browser extension to identify and prevent file uploads before they even reach the website. However, DLP cannot monitor chats as they are end-to-end encrypted
• Whatsapp Desktop App: Whatsapp can be monitored for Copy/paste events. Use the below article to add WhatsApp.exe to the Application File Access (AFA) Monitoring (Note: File attachments are covered by the AFA channel)

Adding a Windows application

Adding a macOS application

Whatsapp Monitoring on DLP Web Prevent and Cloud Detection Service for Web:

•  DLP cannot monitor WhatsApp on Web Prevent and Cloud Detection Service for Web because WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to secure your chats, which means that only you and the person you're communicating with can read the messages, and no one else, including WhatsApp.

Additional Information

Please note:

Whats App is not an officially supported application, monitoring this application is best effort only.