WeChat or Weixin is a famous Chinese chat application. WeChat for Mac version 2.3.26 supports texting, calling, video calling, online payment … convenient and free.
WeChat is a popular free messaging service, available on mobile devices and now Windows PCs. This desktop version lets you chat and share files just like you can on mobile versions.
Connect with your mobile account
To use WeChat, you need to register an account with your mobile number. This version of Windows is a buffer for mobile applications. To register, simply download the application for your mobile device, enter your phone number, and then enter the verification code you have sent.
Giving the app access to your contacts allows you to see who has used WeChat. To use the Windows version, you must open the mobile app and take a picture of the QR code that appears on your screen. After completion Wechat for Windows opens, looks and feels very similar to mobile users.
Basic chat application about function
With WeChat for Mac , you can chat with your contacts via desktop and receive notifications when someone contacts you. You can also send files. File transfer may be more useful on Windows than on mobile devices (especially if you are an iOS user), as you can send any type of file you like via WeChat.
WeChat is quite simple. In addition to text chat and file transfer, you can also send screenshots and emoticons. The screenshot tool is good, automatically signing around windows you hover over. Where WeChat lags behind other applications like Skype or Facebook messages is the lack of video or voice chat.
Stay connected without your phone
WeChat for Windows is a useful addition to mobile applications, but note that you cannot use it without a mobile account. However, it is very useful if you want to connect without looking at your phone!
Although newly launched in 2011, so far, WeChat has a large number of users (nearly 1 billion users). WeChat for Mac is designed to help users connect with Tencent’s communication service. To be able to use WeChat, users must connect it to a mobile device using the built-in QR code scanning tool.
Establishing a link between WeChat on Mac and mobile quickly
Although you can sign up for a free WeChat account, note that you can only do it on smartphones with WeChat installed for iOS or WeChat for Android.
WeChat requires you to enter your phone number to send the activation code and scan your contacts to find people who are using the same service as you. Next, place your phone camera into the QR Code shown on your computer to identify the connection.
It is worth mentioning that the mobile version of WeChat supports video or audio calls, but the desktop version can only handle text messages. In addition, it does not reload the previous conversation. However, users can choose to save chat history in Preferences to review them when needed.
Send and receive text messages through WeChat without using your phone
At the main WeChat window for Mac, users will see current chats, send and receive text messages, use emoticons, share files, capture, upload screens (note, Your computer must have at least 1GB of free storage space.)
Moreover, WeChat for Mac also provides the ability to add new contacts to the collection, invite more than one user to the same conversation, activate banners, sound notifications whenever receiving new messages.
For convenience, WeChat for Mac comes with shortcuts that quickly open the most frequently used functions and help users track documents they want to share.
Update in the new WeChat version 2.3.5
Bug fixes
Search the entire chat history via the search box in the “Chats” and “Contacts” screens
Add new feature “Search”, allowing users to search for articles and news of the Official Account
Download WeChat for Mac 2.2.8
Fix crashes when logging in WeChat.
Automatically synchronize new messages received from your phone to your Mac after signing in.
Select a date range to backup and restore chat history.
The main feature of WeChat
Free SMS and MMS messaging. You can send photos with photos, videos, links, files … to friends and relatives.
High quality phone calls and video calls.
Group calls, group chat, group video calls to connect with many people at the same time. Suitable for connecting with groups of friends, online meetings with customers, families …
Support sending voice messages to share information faster.
Share locations with 1 tap.
Playing WeChat game was fun with friends. Can play combination games, share points, chat …
Find and make friends online.
Share moments through photos with Moments feature.
Some notes for users
WeChat (also known as Weixin in China) is a mobile application that allows users to chat by video, audio or text directly on a smartphone … and operate as a community like social networks. This is an application of Tencent, one of the largest software firms in China.
However, the security level of this mobile application is being questioned when it is used by criminals to cause crimes, causing real harm to users, not simply. is the theft of information on a device.
Specifically, WeChat, operating on both Android and iOS platforms is equipped with the “Look Around” feature, which allows other users to easily identify those who use WeChat near their location. This allows criminals to immediately identify and contact the victim to make the crime easier.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, a local court in Zhejiang Province (China) sentenced a man surnamed Cao, 32, 8 years and 6 months in prison on charges of raping women.
It is known that he used WeChat to get acquainted with young girls in the city of Ningbo, then thanks to the “Look Aroud” feature on this application to determine their location. After gaining the trust of the victims, Cao took these young girls to secluded places and committed his crimes. Cao admitted to raping 7 young girls with his tricks.
Police in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, meanwhile, said that since December last year, they had received reports of 20 cases of theft and fraud related to the WeChat app.
One of the main reasons WeChat is a criminal’s favorite tool is the “Message in a bottle” feature, which allows users to send messages to any user. Another is using WeChat, relying on this information, the more criminals can base on their crimes.
With the use of mobile tools to serve crimes, the question arises: whose responsibility is it? From the carelessness of users or application providers, when not managing the features on their products?
According to an online survey conducted by Chinese website iFeng, up to 42% of the survey participants (out of 31,742) said that Tencent, the “father” of WeChat, was responsible for Your application is used by criminals.
“Although there are optional settings on WeChat, that is not enough,” said Chen Qifeng, an office worker in Shanghai. “The more features that are available, the more confusing the user is when setting application options.”
Meanwhile, Xia Jiapin, a lawyer in Beijing, said that Tencent needs to warn users of some potential dangers that some functions may pose when used.
However, at present, Tencent has not yet spoken about whether to upgrade or update safety measures to protect users or not.