The answer is rarely straightforward.
: The encryption key is securely stored on the device, making it difficult for attackers to access without physical access to the device and exploitation of device-specific vulnerabilities. msgstore db crypt
The encryption used in msgstore.db.crypt is end-to-end, meaning that only the sender and the intended recipient can read the messages. Not even WhatsApp's servers can access the content of the messages. This level of encryption ensures that even if the database file is accessed by unauthorized parties, they will not be able to read the messages without the decryption key. The answer is rarely straightforward
Over the years, WhatsApp has updated this extension to denote different encryption standards: msgstore db crypt
