Can You Get Virus Or Malware From Whatsapp Sender?

[paulyron]

Does anyone here use WhatsApp? I am speaking to someone who I previously spoken to on another app via text message a while back.  Now I am speaking to that person on Whatsapp as they gave me their information.  I recently sent a few text messages to them and I got a text message back. Then it showed a microphone icon for like 20 seconds or so and the microphone disappeared and it then showed like a 20 second audio thing where it seems like I have to click on it to play the audio?  So that means the person was recording a voice message?

 

 

It says something about transcript on it and has a play button with the seconds.  Can others here confirm that I can't get malware or virus by clicking on it?   This is just me playing their voice audio right? Like them recording themselves talking for 20 seconds and then sending that to me for me to play the voice message? Can someone post a picture of how it looks if it's similar to what I got?  I just want to make sure that this is a regular Whatsapp thing and not malware.

[ieleja]

in https://web.whatsapp.com/ it looks as in picture, if you google for "whatsapp voice messages", you get other devices looks

 

with 'NSO’s Pegasus spyware' you can get hacked silently, without interaction at all, but it is not likely in real life

 

but you always can answer, that you don't want interact such way (I hate voice messages)

 

 

 

[y0ur5h4d0w]

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

[paulyron]

5 minutes ago, ieleja said:

in https://web.whatsapp.com/ it looks as in picture, if you google for "whatsapp voice messages", you get other devices looks

 

with 'NSO’s Pegasus spyware' you can get hacked silently, without interaction at all, but it is not likely in real life

 

but you always can answer, that you don't want interact such way (I hate voice messages)

 

 

 

If it looks like the picture you posted, what does that mean?

 

The thing is I chat with this person a while back on another app.  This time it's with Whatsapp.  However, it showed like this microphone icon that was there for 20 seconds or so before it disappeared and then a voice message that showed like 20 seconds showed up.  

 

The thing is if I click on play, I know it should play what he is saying.  But can I get malware from it though is my concern?  I am not a fan of clicking on links.  But the thing is this appeared to be him just recording a voice recording for 20 seconds and then sending it to me for me to play it?

[paulyron]

5 minutes ago, y0ur5h4d0w said:

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 you 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

How do I know if it's an audit file instead of a classic vocal recording?  What do you mean all my apps updated?  You mean Whatsapp or you mean my IOS?  I use iPhone so it doesn't have AV.  

 

The thing is I don't want to appear rude to that person.  Me and that person exchanged a ton of messages a while back on another app.  

 

Could I install Whatsapp on my Chromebook and play it that way?  Or it still isn't safe?  The thing is this person I am pretty certain isn't sending anything malicious but I just don't want to open a link or click on anything.  The thing is when I saw the microphone icon for like 20 seconds and then it disappearing and then it shows a 20 seconds message where I can click play to play it... it just seems like he recorded a 20 second audio message and sending it for me to play to hear him correct?  So that should not be a problem?  

 

So how many type of audio messages are there on WhatsApp?  2?  The audio file or the classic recording?  How do I know which is audio file and which is classic recording?  Is the classic recording always safe?  The audio file isn't then?  It just appears like if I click on the play, it would play it.  It doesn't appear to be a file I download though?

[y0ur5h4d0w]

15 minutes ago, paulyron said:

How do I know if it's an audit file instead of a classic vocal recording?  What do you mean all my apps updated?  You mean Whatsapp or you mean my IOS?  I use iPhone so it doesn't have AV.  

 

The thing is I don't want to appear rude to that person.  Me and that person exchanged a ton of messages a while back on another app.  

 

Could I install Whatsapp on my Chromebook and play it that way?  Or it still isn't safe?  The thing is this person I am pretty certain isn't sending anything malicious but I just don't want to open a link or click on anything.  The thing is when I saw the microphone icon for like 20 seconds and then it disappearing and then it shows a 20 seconds message where I can click play to play it... it just seems like he recorded a 20 second audio message and sending it for me to play to hear him correct?  So that should not be a problem?  

 

So how many type of audio messages are there on WhatsApp?  2?  The audio file or the classic recording?  How do I know which is audio file and which is classic recording?  Is the classic recording always safe?  The audio file isn't then?  It just appears like if I click on the play, it would play it.  It doesn't appear to be a file I download though?

if both your iphone and whatsapp are updated to the latest version it's considerable safe

 

the "safe" state is considered when you're up to date with your device and your app updates, safe doesn't mean immune. attacks are most of the time directed to companies.

 

audio recordings works exactly as you experienced, you start the recording, you finish the recording, you upload it, the time it takes for the person who receives the recording you sent is the sum of: recording time + upload time which is usually recoring time + about 5/10 seconds. what you experienced is normal. i don't remember on whatsapp (i don't use it anymore because i don't like it) but on telegram you can see the "....recording voice message" near the contact name while someone is recording a voice message, should be the same for whatsapp

 

you can consider 2 type of files in whatsapp. Voice recording and Audio File. in the example below, the top message is the classic voice recording and the message below is the audio file. i'm most certenly sure that you received the top messge from this example

 

 

 

just chill, take a deep breath and try to figure out why you're scared at the moment

 

this will help you figure out the situation better

[paulyron]

23 minutes ago, y0ur5h4d0w said:

if both your iphone and whatsapp are updated to the latest version it's considerable safe

 

the "safe" state is considered when you're up to date with your device and your app updates, safe doesn't mean immune. attacks are most of the time directed to companies.

 

audio recordings works exactly as you experienced, you start the recording, you finish the recording, you upload it, the time it takes for the person who receives the recording you sent is the sum of: recording time + upload time which is usually recoring time + about 5/10 seconds. what you experienced is normal. i don't remember on whatsapp (i don't use it anymore because i don't like it) but on telegram you can see the "....recording voice message" near the contact name while someone is recording a voice message, should be the same for whatsapp

 

you can consider 2 type of files in whatsapp. Voice recording and Audio File. in the example below, the top message is the classic voice recording and the message below is the audio file. i'm most certenly sure that you received the top messge from this example

 

 

 

just chill, take a deep breath and try to figure out why you're scared at the moment

 

this will help you figure out the situation better

Thanks for the response.  Okay so if it looks like the top message, then it's the classic voice recording.  So if it's that, then it's 100% safe to click on it right?  Yea what I described with how it went, it seems to be a voice recording.  But it's been a while since someone had sent me one so I'm not that sure.  So what I described with it showing an icon of a microphone for a bit from them and then disappearing and then an audio message that shows 20 seconds and a play button, that is exactly classic voice recording?  Can anyone else confirm this?

 

 

So if it's the 2nd file thus audio file, that isn't safe then right if someone wants to send malware?  The thing is the person who sent me the message, they sent it pretty soon after I sent a text message so it should be fine?  

 

 

I'm concerned because of malware and virus from clicking links.  So I want to be careful with all this.  Like when I browse online, I do it with my chromebook and not my windows 11 laptop.  

[y0ur5h4d0w]

1 hour ago, paulyron said:

Thanks for the response.  Okay so if it looks like the top message, then it's the classic voice recording.  So if it's that, then it's 100% safe to click on it right?  Yea what I described with how it went, it seems to be a voice recording.  But it's been a while since someone had sent me one so I'm not that sure.  So what I described with it showing an icon of a microphone for a bit from them and then disappearing and then an audio message that shows 20 seconds and a play button, that is exactly classic voice recording?  Can anyone else confirm this?

 

 

So if it's the 2nd file thus audio file, that isn't safe then right if someone wants to send malware?  The thing is the person who sent me the message, they sent it pretty soon after I sent a text message so it should be fine?  

 

 

I'm concerned because of malware and virus from clicking links.  So I want to be careful with all this.  Like when I browse online, I do it with my chromebook and not my windows 11 laptop.  

TL/DR:

if you want my personal and short answer, yes it's a safe kind of messages.

 

i was going to yap (more) about cybersecurity and related concepts but i'm not willing to get misunderstood and especially i don't want to create psycological terrorism since it's just not good. 

 

 

the rest of this post is just my personal opinion and advices i would give if you're concerned about internet safety :

 

i understand the fact that you want to avoid getting in trouble on the internet and it's more then legit, however, ANY INTERACTION you have with a person on the internet should be taken as if you were in real life.

what i mean is: how would you feel if this chat (being it text or via voice messages or photos or whatever) happened OUTSIDE the internet? would you feel safe or would you feel awkward and have a bad feeling? no one can help you achieve the safety situation you seek other than you and how you feel.

 

most of the times we all consider the internet interactions as something sterile and like we're having a conversation with "nothing" but in reality there's always someone behind the screen.

 

in your case, if you feel safe texting with this person and you've never received a voice message, this could be a good sign, always evaluate the full situation you're in, if you feel safe you've got pretty much nothing to worry about

 

and trust me... you will feel something in the air if chatting with someone is not feeling good at all.

[paulyron]

6 hours ago, y0ur5h4d0w said:

TL/DR:

if you want my personal and short answer, yes it's a safe kind of messages.

 

i was going to yap (more) about cybersecurity and related concepts but i'm not willing to get misunderstood and especially i don't want to create psycological terrorism since it's just not good. 

 

 

the rest of this post is just my personal opinion and advices i would give if you're concerned about internet safety :

 

i understand the fact that you want to avoid getting in trouble on the internet and it's more then legit, however, ANY INTERACTION you have with a person on the internet should be taken as if you were in real life.

what i mean is: how would you feel if this chat (being it text or via voice messages or photos or whatever) happened OUTSIDE the internet? would you feel safe or would you feel awkward and have a bad feeling? no one can help you achieve the safety situation you seek other than you and how you feel.

 

most of the times we all consider the internet interactions as something sterile and like we're having a conversation with "nothing" but in reality there's always someone behind the screen.

 

in your case, if you feel safe texting with this person and you've never received a voice message, this could be a good sign, always evaluate the full situation you're in, if you feel safe you've got pretty much nothing to worry about

 

and trust me... you will feel something in the air if chatting with someone is not feeling good at all.

I chat with this person a while back many times but not on WhatsApp.  The thing is I don't want to click on any link or things like this.  I just want to know if what I described is safe because it's been a while since someone has sent me a voice type of audio for me to play.  Now I would always play it if it's someone I spoke to but it's been a while since I received a voice message from someone.  So I guess compare how the voice audio looks from this person compared to when I received from other people who I know well from Whatsapp a while back the?

[y0ur5h4d0w]

On 5/21/2025 at 7:36 PM, paulyron said:

I chat with this person a while back many times but not on WhatsApp.  The thing is I don't want to click on any link or things like this.  I just want to know if what I described is safe because it's been a while since someone has sent me a voice type of audio for me to play.  Now I would always play it if it's someone I spoke to but it's been a while since I received a voice message from someone.  So I guess compare how the voice audio looks from this person compared to when I received from other people who I know well from Whatsapp a while back the?

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