Screenshot blocking: Difference between revisions
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Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform: | Blocking screenshots is typically an in-app technology, not something that automatically applies across all apps or devices. Here's how it works, depending on the platform: | ||
On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view). This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.<ref>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams WindowManager.LayoutParams | API reference | Android Developers]</ref><ref name="netflix-vdocipher" /> | On Android, apps can block screenshots using a flag called: WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE. When this flag is set on an activity, it prevents the content from being captured in screenshots, screen recordings, and even in the app switcher (recent apps view). This is often used by apps like, banking apps, streaming services (e.g., Netflix), and secure messaging apps.<ref>[https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams WindowManager.LayoutParams | API reference | Android Developers] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260401090300/https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/WindowManager.LayoutParams Archived])</ref><ref name="netflix-vdocipher" /> | ||
On iOS, iOS does not give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}. | On iOS, iOS does not give developers an official flag like FLAG_SECURE, but they use workarounds, like displaying sensitive content in a UIView with custom rendering, then hiding or blurring it when the app detects screenshot events or apps going into background or app switcher{{Citation needed}}. | ||
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There are legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in Incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended. | There are legitimate reasons to take a screenshot in Incognito mode. Developers may need to capture how a website looks to first-time visitors, or users might want to save information temporarily without adding it to their browsing history. In these cases, blocking screenshots serves no meaningful security purpose and only prevents the device owner from using their phone’s features as intended. | ||
=== Ineffective === | ===Ineffective=== | ||
Screens can be photographed from an external device. The quality of the image is likely to be lower, but it generally does not prevent someone from being able to reach alphanumerical information such as banking details and text-based messages.<!-- (Recently moved from: "It's a local file) Not sure this is a convincing argument. Just because someone can do something through one means, it doesn't follow that another means should be allowed. There is a counterargument to be made that making something more difficult acts as a deterrent, meaning fewer people would do it and it is therefore successful on that level. --> | Screens can be photographed from an external device. The quality of the image is likely to be lower, but it generally does not prevent someone from being able to reach alphanumerical information such as banking details and text-based messages.<!-- (Recently moved from: "It's a local file) Not sure this is a convincing argument. Just because someone can do something through one means, it doesn't follow that another means should be allowed. There is a counterargument to be made that making something more difficult acts as a deterrent, meaning fewer people would do it and it is therefore successful on that level. --> | ||
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<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[ | The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots<ref>[https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations] ([https://megalodon.jp/2026-0416-0213-11/https://cybersecuritynews.com:443/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ Archived])</ref>. | ||
</blockquote>WhatsApp blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, citing it as a measure to protect privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2026 |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=WhatsApp Help Center}}</ref> However, once a profile picture has been uploaded to WhatApp, it is no longer a private image. | </blockquote>WhatsApp blocked screenshots of profile pictures in 2024, citing it as a measure to protect privacy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2026 |title=About profile photo screenshot blocking |url=https://faq.whatsapp.com/1799783917198636 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2024-1223-0217-58/https://faq.whatsapp.com:443/1799783917198636 |archive-date=23 Dec 2024 |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=WhatsApp Help Center}}</ref> However, once a profile picture has been uploaded to WhatApp, it is no longer a private image. | ||
==It's a local file== | ==It's a local file== | ||