In August, Facebook introduced a hugely controversial data sharing plan to start harvesting data from its WhatsApp messaging app from September 25 for delivering more relevant ads on the social network.
Many users were not happy with the move, because there was no real way of opting out from the data sharing – WhatsApp users could only do so within a short period – and even if users did opt
The Article 29 Working Party, an EU privacy coalition urges WhatsApp to clarify that user information shared between the company and Facebook is compliant with data protection laws on the books in Europe.
WhatsApp is, no doubt, the largest end-to-end encrypted messaging network that allows over billion of its users to send messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, and calls that are secure from falling into the wrong hands.
And now it seems like WhatsApp is rolling out a much-awaited feature for the new beta versions of its Android app: Video Calling.
New beta version 2.16.318 of
To help better serve users of the WhatsApp messaging app, Facebook recently implemented a number of changes to the terms and conditions associated with the service. The new policy addresses information sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook – anyone who continues to use the app agrees to having some of their personal data sent back to Facebook for analysis and marketing purposes.
Concerned about potential abuses of this new sharing agreement, a German regulator has stepped in, forcing Facebook to put their plans on hold. Facebook has been ordered to stop sharing the information of their German users. They have also been forced to delete any data that has already been transferred from WhatsApp.
According to the data commissioner for Hamburg who issued the stop order, the 30 million German people currently using WhatsApp should have the option of whether or not they want to connect their account to Facebook. By forcing every WhatsApp user to make the link, users are deprived of the choice.
Which is apparently illegal under German data protection laws.
According to the new user agreement, Facebook is collecting a few specific details from WhatsApp – the names and numbers of people contained in your address book, who you call, and how long you speak for. They claim that this information can then be used to put WhatsApp users in touch with “relevant” businesses, and to help improve suggested friend recommendations on the Facebook social network.
Facebook has assured users that they will not be selling these details to advertisers, or sharing personal data publicly.
WhatsApp and Facebook have stated that their data collection and sharing programmes are entirely legal – both at EU and local government levels. But following the German announcement, information commissioners in the UK and the US have also voiced concerns about the deal. Neither has yet confirmed whether there will be any further investigations or sanctions however.
For WhatsApp users, this all sounds pretty scary. Facebook’s disclosure seems fairly straightforward – but government reactions reveal the complexities of managing and controlling personal data in the social media age.
It is extremely important to note that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook have access to your calls or messages sent using the app however. Every communication is encrypted between you and the recipient so no one, including Facebook, can listen in.
Which means that even if Facebook changes their data sharing policies again in future, your most sensitive conversations will not be used in any way.
The WhatsApp data sharing row is a timely reminder that your personal data is valuable, and it is being shared between providers. If you haven’t read every word of the terms and conditions for every app installed on your smartphone, you probably don’t know which are doing it though.
You can regain some of that control using Panda Mobile Security. This Android anti-virus app not only detects malware, but it also allows you to control the data access permissions for every app you have installed. You can control who can access your data, reducing the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft – or the target of determined advertisers and sales people!
The post Facebook banned to stop collecting users data on WhatsApp appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.
There are dozens of messaging apps available for your smartphone, each with its own strong points. This guide will help you understand which are the best – and how to use each one securely.
Built into every iPhone and iPad as standard, Apple’s iMessage app is a safe and secure tool for staying in touch with friends and family. You can send text, photos and videos quickly and easily – and your messages are encrypted to prevent people snooping on them.
The only drawback is that iMessage only works on Apple devices. So if your friends have Android handsets, you won’t be able to contact them this way.
Staying safe: Make sure you have a passcode enabled on your phone. You should also consider disabling the message preview on your lock screen.
Despite the controversy about how teens may be using the app to send inappropriate pictures, Snapchat remains a useful tool for picture messaging. You can add sketches or text to your photos to make sure people understand your messages.
Snapchat is available on iOS and Android, so you can stay in touch with all your friends.
Staying safe: Just because Snapchat deletes your pictures automatically, don’t assume that they cannot be recovered or saved. Think very carefully about the potential consequences before sending explicit or embarrassing snaps.
An add-on service to the social network, Facebook Messenger boasts well over a million users. So if your friends have a Facebook account, they will also be available on Messenger.
Facebook Messenger is available on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile and Blackberry smartphones, as well as any internet connected PC. You can also make voice and video calls using the app.
If you really need the message to get through, Facebook Messenger is a great option.
Staying safe: Facebook has added end-to-end encryption to Messenger, but it is not enabled by default. You must switch this feature on to prevent your messages being intercepted – and to stop Facebook snooping on your conversations.
It may seem like it sometimes, but not everyone has a smartphone. Although you can always rely on traditional SMS, the messaging cost can quickly escalate.
WhatsApp uses your phone’s data connection, allowing you to message with your data allowance, or when connected to a WiFi network. As well as being available on all the major smartphone platforms, the app can also be installed on older/less powerful devices running Symbian. Which means you can message even more people – for free.
So if your friends are resistant to technology, WhatsApp could be what you need to stay in touch.
Staying safe: WhatsApp has struggled with security problems in the past, so you will need to have an additional tool to identify potential problems and block malware/loopholes. Panda’s Mobile Security toolkit can help provide that cover. You should also check to make sure that end-to-end encryption has been enabled, and that you have disabled data sharing with Facebook to protect your privacy.
These messaging apps will help you stay connected. And when it comes to staying safe, a little common sense goes a long way:
• Always make sure your phone is protected with a pass code.
• Never share information that is sensitive or embarrassing.
• Install a security app to prevent malware or hackers from stealing your data
And that’s it. Have fun!
The post Which are the best mobile messaging apps? appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.
As the World’s most popular messaging application, WhatsApp is constantly adding new features designed to delight their 1 billion registered users. And the latest update contains a number of goodies that will delight fans of picture messaging.
This all looks very familiar…
For anyone who uses the Snapchat app, the new WhatsApp features will seem very familiar. In fact, you might say that they are identical.
WhatsApp users can now take a photo, and quickly add a sketch or some text, before sending it as a message – just like Snapchat. Or they can add emojis – that look exactly the same as those in Snapchat. There’s even several navigation gestures (zooming in an out, or switching between cameras) that are exactly the same as those used in the Snapchat app.
The reason WhatsApp have borrowed so much from Snapchat is simple – to keep people engaged with their platform. The more that people use the platform, the better able WhatsApp (and their parent company Facebook) is to profile them for advertising purposes.
And obviously people want entertaining picture messaging services – so these new features are sure to be incredibly popular
Because of its popularity, WhatsApp has been targeted by cybercriminals many times over the years. Several times researchers and hackers have uncovered flaws in the software that allow accounts to be compromised.
Every one of these breaches has the potential to expose personal information – or to give criminals useful information for identity theft.
WhatsApp has made significant efforts to improve security, although privacy still remains doubtful because of the new data sharing agreement with Facebook. However end-to-end encryption of messages – including the new photo options – should prevent people from “listening in”.
No matter how trusted the developer may be, you should always treat each new app (or update) with some caution. Installing an antivirus and security tool will help you see what is going on behind the scenes, how the app is using your personal data.
The WhatsApp service is known to take a copy of your entire address book and upload it to their servers for instance. WhatsApp are relatively transparent about this (they can better identify your friends who are also using their service) – but other developers are not. You should always use a tool like Panda Mobile Security to monitor exactly what’s happening on your phone.
Otherwise you might be installing software that accesses much more personal data than you expect.
You can prevent data stored on your handset from being accessed by thieves too. Panda Mobile Security allows you to lock each app with a PIN, so if you don’t enter the right code, the app cannot be opened. If someone steals your phone, they cannot view your messages and pictures.
Because the latest update is still very new, no one has yet exposed any new WhatsApp security vulnerabilities. And even if there aren’t any problems, the release is a useful reminder of the importance of scanning new apps from malware, loopholes and suspicious data access permissions.
Download your free copy of Panda Mobile Security now – then go get creative with the new WhatsApp picture features. Have fun!
The post New WhatsApp updates: how to keep your privacy. appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.
The latest on the Yahoo breach, Germany’s problem with WhatsApp-Facebook, Facebook’s osquery tool for Windows, and Zerodium’s $1.5M iOS bounty are all discussed.
A German privacy regulator issued an order this week prohibiting Facebook to stop collecting user data on German WhatsApp users.
Just last month, the most popular messaging app WhatsApp updated its privacy policy and T&Cs to start sharing its user data with its parent company, and now both the companies are in trouble, at least in Germany and India.
Both Facebook, as well as WhatsApp, have been told to immediately stop collecting and storing data on roughly 35 Million WhatsApp users in Germany.
The Hamburg
You now have less than 30 days to change your mind if you recently accepted Whatsapp’s new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
