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Northerner
splelling chceker


Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,244
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Is WhatsApp really to be trusted?
#26843669 - 07/24/20 09:49 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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I've been using Wickr for years, but it's become a bit buggy and stuff. There seems to be a lot of people using WhatsApp. Anyone got an opinion on the safety of this messaging service. I like to keep my conversations private, not sure if the company line of end to end encryption is true, whether or not my private keys are stored on server either... I have a healthy distrust of large companies.
What's your take on it? Safe? Unknown? Not safe? Anyone heard of their accounts being turned over to authorities or any other compromise?
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The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.
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koji


Registered: 12/14/18
Posts: 161
Loc: Dave’s not here
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26843702 - 07/24/20 10:16 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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idk much, but it is owned by facebook... this was an Interesting read I found https://www.wired.com/story/whatsapp-hack-phone-call-voip-buffer-overflow/
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nooneman


Registered: 04/24/09
Posts: 14,593
Loc: Utah
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26843891 - 07/25/20 01:19 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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There aren't any apps that are truly safe and secure. If you want real safety, you'll need to use the most recent version of something like GNUPG. Even then, you need to make sure that it's set up correctly.
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Northerner
splelling chceker


Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,244
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: nooneman]
#26843900 - 07/25/20 01:38 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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GPG isn't exactly a mobile messaging app, I use it on computer but that's not what I mean. Wickr has been good, told the government to of various countries around the world to go fuck themselves, refused to backdoor it. But the thing is a bit buggy these days, connection isn't staying up properly and it's not notifying properly. Maybe if I reinstall it it'll work better. It's like a lot of non logging VPN logs that were found on an unprotected internet facing database recently. There's very good reason not to trust many so called security companies.
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The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.
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Northerner
splelling chceker


Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,244
Loc: FNQ
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26843925 - 07/25/20 02:26 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Might have to try out Signal. There seems to be a happier user base with that. Less bugs, open source and well established.
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The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.
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DancingWolf
FluffButt



Registered: 08/31/19
Posts: 797
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26845262 - 07/25/20 10:12 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Its quite foolish to trust a "privacy" instant messenger program without also combining it with regular security, such as: burner device, public internet, and PGP tools.
Even if by some chance the program isn't snooping, backdoored, etc, it may have bugs in it that can be exploited. Use PGP and give keys to your circle of trust.
I wouldn't trust whatsapp at all.
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Northerner
splelling chceker


Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,244
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: DancingWolf]
#26845359 - 07/25/20 11:49 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Yeah, I'm not selling drugs though, I'm really not that interesting. I just don't like my shit on display and on record. I'm glad I'm not the only one who just straight up doesn't trust WhatsApp. Something about it tweaks me. Can sense that it's not to be trusted at all, like everything is recorded.
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The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.
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InnerEternity
Stranger
Registered: 07/12/20
Posts: 52
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26845490 - 07/26/20 04:13 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Telegram?
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DancingWolf
FluffButt



Registered: 08/31/19
Posts: 797
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: InnerEternity]
#26846056 - 07/26/20 12:38 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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The FBI stopped screaming about it so I think its compromised as well.
Also, assuming you use a phone with these programs, anyone who gets their hands on your unlocked phone can read any whatsapp messages you have sent; likewise with many other messengers like telegram. You may say, "But my phone is locked!"; well, that's cute and all, but physical access and time are the arch enemies of digital security. Your phone may be locked today, but there will be inevitable software holes or brute force techniques that enable it to be accessed. The time span for this may be a matter of 2-3 years.
The manufacture may just unlock it.
PGP or bust.
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Northerner
splelling chceker


Registered: 07/29/12
Posts: 14,244
Loc: FNQ
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: DancingWolf]
#26846211 - 07/26/20 02:17 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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PGP is still open to side channel attacks, there's no getting around that. Once something is decrypted on your device it's readable by humans and other software. It's been years since I heard any complaints from government agencies about any encryption software. Except for a few years ago when the government here tried to put in laws that ban encryption altogether, and got laughed at.
I like the self destructing messaging services for convenience. After all I'm not trying to hide my ass from criminal prosecution, just avoid leaving a trail of privacy compromising information across the internet and various devices.
I've still not come across anyone who trusts WhatsApp though. The Zuck has shown he really doesn't give a fuck about privacy. Just the fact that they modified use Signal encryption rather than using it straight up is a massive red flag.
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The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.
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DancingWolf
FluffButt



Registered: 08/31/19
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26846715 - 07/26/20 07:49 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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I use self destructing notes as well, but combine it with PGP when discussing anything sensitive. Security can be upped further by using a virtual keyboard (scrambled letters), or using a dedicated secure computer.
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Kaldius
Stranger
Registered: 07/25/20
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: DancingWolf]
#26850283 - 07/28/20 05:00 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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You can combine encryption technologies such as GPG key verification or MEMO with chat clients supporting XMPP protocol such as Conversation, I think it's pretty safe that way as long as your using open sourced client.
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Anonymous #1
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26864151 - 08/05/20 09:40 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Northerner said: PGP is still open to side channel attacks, there's no getting around that. Once something is decrypted on your device it's readable by humans and other software. It's been years since I heard any complaints from government agencies about any encryption software. Except for a few years ago when the government here tried to put in laws that ban encryption altogether, and got laughed at.
The fact that people can read stuff over your shoulder isn't a PGP vulnerability. And anybody with a point and shoot camera can record your Wickr chats without your knowledge.
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,890
Loc: Milky way
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Anonymous #1]
#26873548 - 08/10/20 03:14 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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The device your running WhatsApp on is already backdoored and compromised. But I wouldn't trust WhatsApp. If your messages need encryption they should be encrypted on a machine not connected to the internet. Moved after encryption onto a device to send the message.
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Surfiingbird
Stranger

Registered: 06/23/16
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: bodhisatta]
#26873989 - 08/10/20 07:53 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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It’s a Chinese company so I wouldn’t trust it
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Surfiingbird
Stranger

Registered: 06/23/16
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Surfiingbird]
#26873990 - 08/10/20 07:53 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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It and Tiktok are two apps I wouldn’t trust with personal info
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Northerner
splelling chceker


Registered: 07/29/12
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Surfiingbird]
#26874362 - 08/11/20 01:52 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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I thought WhatsApp was owned by Facebook?
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The nearest we ever come to knowing truth is when we are witness to paradox.
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,890
Loc: Milky way
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Northerner]
#26874457 - 08/11/20 05:25 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Yea WhatsApp is 100% American
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Gypsy Boy
Redeemer



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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: bodhisatta]
#26874767 - 08/11/20 10:12 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
bodhisatta said: The device your running WhatsApp on is already backdoored and compromised. But I wouldn't trust WhatsApp. If your messages need encryption they should be encrypted on a machine not connected to the internet. Moved after encryption onto a device to send the message.
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Gypsy Boy
Redeemer



Registered: 03/17/17
Posts: 4,501
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Re: Is WhatsApp really to be trusted? [Re: Gypsy Boy]
#26874813 - 08/11/20 10:42 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Anyway I wouldn't use whatsapp to do buziness, I only use it to communicate with my hookers
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