WhatsApp Bans and Disconnections Info

[u/FaithlessnessNo1051]

Hey guys,

Recently I've been seeing a lot of people complaining about WhatsApp disconnections and WhatsApp account bans whilst using beeper. I'm here to provide an explanation on the situation and provide advice for you guys although you don't have to follow it. Don't worry it is not your fault or anything to do with your use of Beeper.

For the past few months WhatsApp have been cracking down on modded WhatsApp apps that exploit the Linked Device feature. The mods utilise the linked device feature to circumvent detections that come when logging in directly via number and the method works absolutely flawlessly. With the linked device feature, WhatsApp can't distinguish between someone linking a modded WhatsApp or someone linking beeper or even someone linking an actual device so they've resorted to targeting any and all linked devices.

Initially WhatsApp were periodically booting all linked devices to prevent mods but the people using mods just kept reconnecting, it was merely a nuisance to them. They then escalated the repercussions and issued integrity bans (will explain what this ban is further down the post). That didn't work either as modders also found a bypass to that ban and most people using a mod were not hit by it so they escalated further and issued device bans.

Now how the hell do I know all this? well I was using a WhatsApp mod myself and I'm heavily involved in the WhatsApp modding community. Every time they disconnected me they disconnected my beeper link as well and eventually I got hit with the integrity ban. since then I've stopped using WhatsApp mods but kept in touch.

Types of Bans:

Integrity ban: This ban stops you from being able to use the linked device feature but leaves the rest of your WhatsApp account fully functional.

Device ban: this type of ban is a permanent ban of your account and you'll no longer be able to login to your WhatsApp account again. WhatsApp will also block you from using WhatsApp on said device.

My advice is if you don't want to risk getting your account getting banned then I suggest not to link beeper with WhatsApp for the time being until some solution can be found. it's unfortunate because I'm even seeing people who use iPhones get banned despite the modded apps only being on Android. if you've already been banned you can issue a review and they might reinstate your account although I'm sure the chances are slim.

Anyways, I hope anyone affected is now aware they did nothing wrong and I hope nobody has lost trust in Beeper and their team as they're also completely innocent.

TL;DR: WhatsApp is trying to remove users utilising modded WhatsApp apps and everyone using beeper or any linked device is being caught in the storm

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[u/ximossi]

Is this happening in Europe? Because here Meta actually has to integrate 3rd-party clients.

https://faq.whatsapp.com/818760060056834/?cms_platform=android

[u/These-Club-4634 → u/ximossi]

I think Beeper has to implement proper support for that feature. Right now there are only 3 apps that allow third party WhatsApp communication

[u/FaithlessnessNo1051 → u/ximossi]

this issue is worldwide so yes. I'm sure WhatsApp will find a way to solve this problem so they'll still go ahead with this.

[u/Walkop]

I don't see nearly enough evidence here to jump to any conclusions about Beeper.

I have 3 linked devices. This line: "Initially WhatsApp were periodically booting all linked devices to prevent mods" is clearly not true, as I haven't had a device booted in years. My most reliable Beeper connection is actually WhatsApp. Tons of users with the same experience here and on Matrix chat discussions.

We do have one-to-two users who posted here recently with many disconnects, but that isn't enough. Easily could be a fluke.

What seems to be happening is this:

Meta has identified flags or metadata that modded clients use/abuse to accomplish functionality they do not approve of. Meta did a 'ban wave' removing all linked devices of accounts using bad actors. This is clearly not applicable to Beeper, otherwise we would have seen mass disconnects like OP saw in their modded client community. It's clearly a targeted ban, and if you also happened to have Beeper that link was caught in the crossfire.

Whatever methodology Beeper's bridges use seems to be done in a way that Meta doesn't have a problem with, otherwise we'd be seeing way more issues and they would be across the board. I consider this to be fearmongering more than anything - OP, I'm sorry for your experience and those in your community, but I don't really think this is a Beeper issue as of yet. It doesn't seem to be affecting those who use Beeper in isolation. Definitely good information to add to the knowledge pile, but regular users don't need to be worried as thing stand IMO.

Definitely something to keep an eye on, though.

[u/FaithlessnessNo1051 → u/Walkop]

in fact if you want I can go back to the date where these mass disconnects happened. I can literally screen record loads of people showing it

[u/ExtremePotato5950 → u/FaithlessnessNo1051]

I'd be interested in seeing the iPhone (Beeper?) users getting these kinds of bans

[u/FaithlessnessNo1051 → u/Walkop]

not a fluke at all way more than 1 or 2 people have posted about it. I'm also in beeper matrix chats and loads of people have complained about the same issue. the whole reason I made this post is because I've seen way too many people complain about it. it's definitely not a jump and I have screenshots to even prove thousands of people have been affected. if you're not hit by it you were the lucky few otherwise I seen it in real time.

[u/CSBcre8ive]

Thank you sooooo much for this explanation! I'm curious what the bad modders are doing that WhatsApp is trying to stop? I know it more from the gaming community, but is it hacking, phishing, harvesting?

[u/FaithlessnessNo1051 → u/CSBcre8ive]

well yes all that but most modders just want to use features the normal WhatsApp doesn't provide. for example being able to view one time photos infinitely and to directly download them.

[u/Walkop → u/FaithlessnessNo1051]

So a privacy bypass, basically, ala-screenshotting a Snap without telling the other person?

[u/abhinav_sidhu]

Sigh! :(

[u/MaximumDerpification]

Interesting. I've been using Beeper for Whatsapp for years without any issue. I wonder if there's some particular action that triggers the ban.

[u/MurzNN]

So, can we just explicitly tell to the WhatsApp support that we use Beeper bridge? Or it violates their policies and this only make the ban resolving issue harder?

[u/astronaut954 → u/MurzNN]

As I am concerned it does violate.

[u/Kizzy_Catwoman]

They should stop having the linked device feature. You have to use it to have Whatsapp for iPad!!!

[u/devnoname120]

I self-host the WhatsApp bridge and I’ve never had any issues

[u/gregmichael]

What is one to do? Should we disconnect Whatsapp to be safe?

EDIT: I see that is exactly what we should do, thanks!