Thoughts about my free iphone app - WhatsApp
#406
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Congrats to the OP, even if he is no longer involved with FB. His creation has hit 2 billion users! Even more impressive if indeed Whatsapp is not popular in the US.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/12/tech/...ers/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/12/tech/...ers/index.html
#407
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Aside from integration with the OS, not much. Both offer end to end encryption, though I think WhatsApp doesn't turn it on by default. With iMessage, Apple manages your keys. If you want real privacy use Signal.
#408
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#410
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We have no issues with signal on iPhone. Perhaps check the permissions you granted the app?
#411
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End-to-end encryption is always activated. There's no way to turn off end-to-end encryption.
#412
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WhatsApp has sued the Indian government over new internet laws which the company says will “severely undermine” the privacy of their users.
The new IT laws, which have been described as oppressive and draconian, give the Indian government greater power to monitor online activity, including on encrypted apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. They were passed in February but were due to come into effect on Wednesday.
Under the laws, encryption – which keeps communications on the app private and inaccessible to outside parties – would have to be removed from WhatsApp in India and messages would have to be put into a “traceable” database. The government would then be able to identify and take action against the sender if any content was ruled “unlawful”.
……..
WhatsApp, which has more than 400 million users in India and is a fundamental tool of communication across the country, said it would not store the data of its users and infringe their privacy. The company filed a lawsuit in the Delhi courts
The new IT laws, which have been described as oppressive and draconian, give the Indian government greater power to monitor online activity, including on encrypted apps such as WhatsApp and Signal. They were passed in February but were due to come into effect on Wednesday.
Under the laws, encryption – which keeps communications on the app private and inaccessible to outside parties – would have to be removed from WhatsApp in India and messages would have to be put into a “traceable” database. The government would then be able to identify and take action against the sender if any content was ruled “unlawful”.
……..
WhatsApp, which has more than 400 million users in India and is a fundamental tool of communication across the country, said it would not store the data of its users and infringe their privacy. The company filed a lawsuit in the Delhi courts
#414
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WhatsApp’s user base is large and full of influential people within India, but that won’t move matters for the government. Ultimately, if the Indian government pushes this matter to its limit, Facebook/WhatsApp are going to have to hope that the new Chief Justice of India is cut from a very different cloth than the former CJI.
WhatsApp has been repeatedly blocked in China because Facebook/WhatsApp wouldn’t do what China wanted with WhatsApp, and that hasn’t bothered China much at all despite who its users in China were and are.
WhatsApp has been repeatedly blocked in China because Facebook/WhatsApp wouldn’t do what China wanted with WhatsApp, and that hasn’t bothered China much at all despite who its users in China were and are.
#415
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Sorry to resurrect an old thread but...
I have used my google voice number as my Whatsapp number for years. I don't WA that much so when I went to open it today, my account was gone. I tried to reregister and it seems it will no longer verify google voice numbers. Grrrrrrr. I have sent a message to WA but my searching tells me this is a recent decision by WA to no longer allow voip numbers. Anyone out there using a GV number for WA? Is it still working for you?
I have used my google voice number as my Whatsapp number for years. I don't WA that much so when I went to open it today, my account was gone. I tried to reregister and it seems it will no longer verify google voice numbers. Grrrrrrr. I have sent a message to WA but my searching tells me this is a recent decision by WA to no longer allow voip numbers. Anyone out there using a GV number for WA? Is it still working for you?
#416
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#417
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#418
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Well I messaged them asking if they could manually verify my phone number as I have had the account with that number for years. Much to my surprise, they emailed me back in about two hours and said they had looked into my account and bypassed the need for validation as a one-time courtesy so I am back up and running. But she warned me that they will not validate voip numbers any longer.
#419
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So I left the WhatsApp platform years ago after the buy out, various security failures, etc. Have things improved any? What's security like nowadays? end to end encryption? Must you have a Facebook account to use (non negotiable to me)? I have a lot of work friends who use it continually but I've been pretty reluctant in rejoining it due to security problems over the years. TIA
#420
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re: verification, it seems that if you set a two-step PIN on your account, you don't need to receive an SMS when switching phones. Something to consider for those of us using GV.
I'm not about to test it out, but I wouldn't be surprised if they use the same method of "blocking" VoIP numbers nearly everyone else does, where numbers originally from a VoIP provider are blocked but those ported in from cell or landline carriers aren't.
edit: definitely does still work that way. No SMS verification required when switching phones if you've set a PIN.
I'm not about to test it out, but I wouldn't be surprised if they use the same method of "blocking" VoIP numbers nearly everyone else does, where numbers originally from a VoIP provider are blocked but those ported in from cell or landline carriers aren't.
edit: definitely does still work that way. No SMS verification required when switching phones if you've set a PIN.
Last edited by der_saeufer; Jul 30, 2022 at 9:37 am