Tag Archives: WhatsApp

WhatsApp encrypts messages for Android users

encrypted-code

After the arrival of the blue double-check to confirm that the message has been read, WhatsApp has set out to clean up their image and transmit the idea that they too safeguard user privacy. To do this, they have just announced a latest update through which they will start encrypting all messages and protecting them against intruders.

At the moment this version is only available to Android users but WhatsApp plans to implement it for the other operating systems.

With this code the messages are encrypted when they leave the sender’s phone. Therefore, the content of these messages passes through the application servers encrypted and cannot be accessed by anyone, except those holding the conversation.

With this move, WhatsApp is trying to make its customers forget its reputation for an unsecure app and recover some of the ground lost to other apps, such as Telegram, which stand out for higher levels of security and privacy of the service.

The post WhatsApp encrypts messages for Android users appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.

WhatsApp Adds Encryption by Default to Android App

WhatsApp, a massively popular messaging app, recently added end-to-end encryption for some mobile clients, a move that brings a high level of security to millions of users. The change is the result of a partnership with Open Whisper Systems, the secure text and mobile OS company started by security researcher Moxie Marlinspike. Twitter acquired Open […]

Blue double-check in WhatsApp. Your message has been read.

blue-double-check

Remember we said a few days ago that WhatsApp would be able to tell you whether your message had been read? Well, the blue double-check is now here. And what does it mean? The dream of some and nightmare of others: it’s the confirmation that your message has been read.

blue-double-check-whatsapp

 

But that’s not all. The blue double-check has also been included for groups and appears once all members of the group have read the message.

What do you think? Too much information? A loss of privacy? What’s clear is that you will no longer be able to say: “Sorry, I didn’t see your message…”

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Reasons you can be kicked out of WhatsApp

no-whatsapp

“Your number is no longer allowed to use our service”. Do you know what service it is? WhatsApp. That’s right, WhatsApp. Did you know that the app reserves the right to ban users that don’t abide by the terms and conditions of use?

Reasonable enough. The only problem is that they don’t warn you. So, given that forewarned is forearmed, here are some of the things that WhatsApp might ban you for.

Reasons you can be banned from WhatsApp

  • Being blocked by a certain number of users
  • Sending chain messages
  • Using the platform for advertising purposes
  • Sharing obscene or illicit material
  • Spreading files with viruses
  • Pretending to be another person

The company also reserves the right to delete messages that are too long or of limited interest.

The question you have to ask though is… To what extent are our WhatsApp conversations private?

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The Ebola virus becomes the latest bait used by fraudsters

The Spanish Civil Guard has warned via Twitter of a number of Ebola-related hoaxes that have appeared over recent days.

Once again, WhatsApp has become the main channel for such scams, which include bogus reports of new cases of Ebola or the canceling of classes at the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid due to a possible infection.

Spanish-Civil-Guard

Hackers often exploit such situations for financial gain, and it was never in doubt that the first confirmed case of Ebola in Spain would give rise to these types of scams.

The Spanish Civil Guard have asked users to help avoid generating panic by not distributing these messages. They also encourage people to get their information through what they refer to as “serious channels of communication.”

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WhatsApp Oro, a new scam related to the world famous messaging app

whatsapp oro

 

Be careful! The Spanish National Police have reported a new type of scam related to WhatsApp. That’s right, another one! We’re beginning to lose count of how many times we’ve reported these types of stories.

It appears that cyber-criminals have invented a new version of the messaging app: WhatsApp Oro (WhatsApp Gold). As you can probably imagine, there is no ‘Gold’ version of WhatsApp, and it’s really just another fraud to subscribe you to Premium SMS services.

Seemingly, criminals have been advertising this service on Twitter and more than a few users have fallen for it.

As you know, the success of WhatsApp has made it a prime target for criminals, so take care and don’t fall into the trap!

The post WhatsApp Oro, a new scam related to the world famous messaging app appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.

WhatsApp could confirm when messages have been read

 

whatsapp doble check

The dream of some and the nightmare of others may soon come true. WhatsApp is apparently considering a system for notifying users when the messages they have sent have been read.

When the app first came out, many thought that the double check symbol meant the message had been read. However, it was made clear that the only thing that the two ticks represent is that the message has been delivered successfully.

The news was leaked after WhatsApp asked a user to translate some terms into Italian. These included: «reproduced by», «sent by», «delivered» and «birthday», though suspicions were raised by the phrase «read by» which has led to all sorts of speculation.

whatsapp read by

This feature is similar to the D (Delivered) and R (Read) messages in BlackBerry Messenger although it appears it is still in trial phase.

What do you think? Would you be in favor of WhatsApp telling you if a message had been read? Or would that be infringing on your privacy?

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WhatsApp. Beware of cyber-crooks and scams!

whatsapp app

 

This week, WhatsApp has announced that it now has 600 million active users.

The news was released by Jan Koum, the CEO and co-founder of WhatsApp, through his Twitter page. Koum made it very clear that this figure refers to the number of active, not registered, users, which means that WhatsApp’s user growth may actually be larger.

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The term ‘active users’ refers to the number of users who have used the app at least once in the last month.

WhatsApp security

Despite the doubts raised a few months ago when Facebook bought WhatsApp, it seems that the messaging app continues to be as popular as ever. The figure of 600 million users affirms WhatsApp as the world’s most widely used instant-messaging application, well ahead of rivals like Line or Telegram.

But this success has also placed it in the crosshairs of cyber-criminals who, over the last few months, have come up with countless ways to exploit the app as a means to attack users.

Want to know how? Discover the most dangerous WhatsApp scams and beware of malicious messages!

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