No, you cannot obtain viruses or malware from a WhatsApp sender.
No, you cannot obtain viruses or malware from a WhatsApp sender.
Is anyone using WhatsApp? I’m talking to someone I previously messaged through another app via text. Now I’m chatting with them on WhatsApp after they shared their info. I sent a few texts and got a reply, then saw a microphone icon for about 20 seconds. After that it disappeared and showed a short audio clip where I had to click to play. It mentioned a transcript and a play button with seconds. Could others confirm I’m not at risk of malware by clicking? Is this just me playing their voice recording for 20 seconds and sending it to you? Someone could share a screenshot if it looks similar. I just want to be sure this is normal WhatsApp and not malicious.
On the website it appears similar to a picture; searching for "whatsapp voice messages" on the internet often brings up images suggesting NSO’s Pegasus spyware could be involved. This raises concerns about silent hacking without any interaction, though real-world risks remain low. People usually express discomfort with voice messages.
the icon you see on the message (probably) shows that you received an audio file instead of a classic "vocal recording", as a general rule of thumb in cybersecurity if you have all your apps updated to the last version as soon as your playstore/app store you're mostly safe. if i remember correctly you can save the audio file without opening it and checking the file using virustotal, most of the time if it's malicious you'll see a lot of red popping up. https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload if you're on windows there is a vulnerability that allows an attacker which craft a malicious package that allows them to execute code remotedly but if you're on your phone this isn't the case, you have to be on windows and using the windows app. https://www.whatsapp.com/security/advisories/2025 the faster route to understanding the reason is playing dumb and asking what kind of vocal recording is that because you've never seen one like that or simply explain that you can't listen to audio messages, for me works everytime (i hate audio messages) in a nutshell and not to annoy you with cybersecurity stuff you might not fully understand: - update your apps to the latest version - always "play dumb" if something sounds suspicious and try to understand the answer you receive, you might be able to understand the intent if good or "evil" - keep in mind that hackers seek cash and where the big cash is stacked is companies - hacking takes A LOT OF TIME to reverse engineer and develop software to exploit vulnerabilities
It seems like the image you shared represents a voice recording that was captured and sent to you. The microphone icon and the brief audio clip suggest someone recorded a short segment of speech, which was then delivered to you. Your concern about potential malware is valid—such recordings can sometimes be used to distribute malicious content. Since you're cautious about clicking links, it's wise to verify the source and avoid downloading files from unknown senders.
To tell if it's an audit file or a regular recording, look at the file extension and how it behaves. Audit files often have specific formats or extensions, and they may trigger alerts when played. Check the app description—some files are labeled differently than standard recordings. If you're unsure, avoid clicking unknown links or downloading attachments. Regarding your Chromebook and WhatsApp, you can install WhatsApp there, but ensure it's from the official source to maintain safety. The microphone icon behavior you noticed might be a test or recording feature, not necessarily malicious. As for audio messages on WhatsApp, there are both audio clips and longer recordings, each with different uses. If you're unsure about a file, it's best to avoid opening it unless you're certain of its source.
when both your iphone and whatsapp are up to date, the "safe" status is reasonable. however, being updated doesn't guarantee complete protection against attacks, which often target companies. audio recordings function just as you expect—starting a recording, finishing it, uploading it. the time taken equals the recording duration plus upload time, typically around 5 to 10 seconds. what you experienced is normal. i don’t recall using whatsapp anymore, but on telegram you’ll see a "....recording voice message" near the contact name when someone is recording. on whatsapp, there are two file types: voice recordings and audio files. in the example, the first part is a standard voice recording, while the second is an audio file. i’m sure you received the top message from this example—just relax, take a breath, and try to understand what’s causing your concern. this should help clarify the situation.
Thanks for your reply. If the message looks like the standard voice recording, then it's safe to click. Your description matches what I expected from a typical voice clip. However, since it's been a while since someone sent me one, I'm not entirely confident. The icon of a microphone, the audio clip, and the play button all point toward a classic recording. If this is the second file in the sequence, it could be suspicious and might be a red flag. I'm worried about malware and viruses from clicking links, so I should stay cautious. I usually browse on my Chromebook rather than my Windows 11 laptop.
TL;DR: If you're seeking safe communication, yes it's a reasonable approach. I'm focusing on cybersecurity and want to avoid misunderstandings or negative impacts. Treat every online interaction like a real-life conversation—your feelings matter. If you feel secure, you're likely safe; otherwise, trust your instincts. The internet can be tricky, but being mindful helps.
I've talked to this person several times before, but not via WhatsApp. I'm concerned about clicking any links because I don't want to share my voice type audio again. I just want to check if it's safe, since it's been a while since someone sent me a voice message for me to listen. I usually play it when I talk to them, but it's been a while since I got a voice message from someone I know well. So I'm wondering how the audio from this person compares to what I received from others on WhatsApp a while ago.
i understand the fact that you might be scared about receiving files from the internet, but this is a chat with a person, it's all up to you, your knowledge and your guts feelings. do you feel safe? do you trust the source of this file? if yes open the file, if you don't open the file. i don't want to sound rude but there's no answer and no way for anyone to ensure that a file inside a chat is safe, it's all about you specially on voice messanges where you can't analyze and share easly, if oyu find a way to download the voice message or find it inside whatsapp data the only way to check if it's safe it's uploading to virustotal BUT remember that everything you upload to virustotal becomes public and people can access it