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whatsapp - security and privacy issues

H

HecklerUK

Member
A friend has just recommended I install whatsapp so we can chat/message for free using the data plan.

As I'm cautious and don't just install stuff when a non technically competent friend suggests it... I checked it out.


What I found was a little shocking... for something that is supposed to be one of the top apps.


All messages are recorded in a sqllite db file on the phone, and if gps is enabled the location is also recorded.

Even if you delete conversations, the data is still retained in this database.

But the worst part... everything, and I do mean everything... is sent over the network with no encryption at all.


This is a nightmare for anyone who takes privacy seriously and I can't recommend it to anyone based on that... in fact I'd encourage people to delete the app completely.


So... is there an app that does the same thing, but uses encryption and offers some privacy.
 
mightytext (Formerly Texty) seems to be a web browser based thing... not looked into it in any depth, but an initial search didn't pull up any major security concerns. Their privacy is pretty standard stuff... we log your data and can sell on information about you to 'trusted' 3rd parties and so forth... But it doesn't specify in detail exactly what data, instead it's rather vague about it.

I do want something, I'm PAYG and since getting the new phone my txt use has rocketed... I've spent more in the last 6 weeks than I did in the previous 12 months (coz I had a knackered old phone that barely worked)... and I can't afford to keep up this rate. :)
 
I just read an article from AndroidPolice. WhatsApp knew for over a year about the lack of security with the app yet did nothing about it. Now there's an app on the market that allows you to intercept ANY WhatsApp conversation being held on a wifi network. This means if you're on a public WiFi, someone might be reading your messages!!!!

WhatsApp actually sends all chats in plaintext, so anyone on the same Wi-Fi network can easily pull your entire conversation - including pictures and videos - straight out of the air. And now, that process is even easier than ever thanks to a new app on the market. It's basically just a packet sniffer, but it makes the process of pulling WhatsApp chats out of the sky stupid-easy, and that's never a good thing. You might as well just shout your private conversations across the room.
Click to expand...

I'm debating if I should continue using WhatsApp. All of my friends use it and their friends, so it's easy and convenient.
 
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