Can you have a secret conversation on WhatsApp using a Secure Text Keyboard? If so, you are not alone. WhatsApp has been a popular messaging app for years, but there are still some limitations to the app’s secret chat feature. In this article, we will take a look at some of the limitations of Secure Text Keyboard and encryption in the app. We’ll also discuss backups and encryption.
Limitations of WhatsApp’s secret chat feature
The recent limitations of WhatsApp’s secret chat feature are intended to make the app more secure. The messaging platform has had to deal with a number of instances of false information spreading on the platform, including misinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. In India, the company imposed a limit of five chats after false rumors caused lynchings. The company will continue to listen to user feedback and find new ways to handle viral content.
The company is hiring more than 1,000 contract workers in Dublin, Singapore, and Austin, Texas, to evaluate user privacy claims. These workers use specialized Facebook software to analyze the claims. They are able to assess the validity of the claims in under one minute. However, this approach has a negative impact on WhatsApp’s ability to protect users. For now, the company will continue to provide the service with stricter privacy policies.
Limitations of Secure Text Keyboard
Secure Text Keyboard is a similar app to Kibo, a messaging application that allows you to send encrypted messages through WhatsApp. Like Kibo, these messages can only be read by the recipient if they know the password. While Secure Text Keyboard works with WhatsApp today, it’s possible that WhatsApp will block it in the future. If this happens, consider using EncryptChat, which uses WhatsApp to send encrypted messages, and then decrypts them on the recipient’s phone. Another alternative to WhatsApp is Telegram.
One downside to this solution is that it is not perfect. While ICMP uses a mix of permanent and temporary keys, each new message has a different key. Therefore, theoretical attackers would be unable to decrypt more than a few messages with a single key. However, this is an overkill solution, as smartphones are capable of processing the constant renewal of keys. Therefore, we can’t recommend Secure Text Keyboard for secret conversations on WhatsApp.
Limitations of WhatsApp’s encryption
While the company’s E2E encryption provides strong security, the privacy of messages is still unprotected, and the metadata that carries the communication between two endpoints remains unprotected. While this does not prevent the authorities from reading messages, it does give them insight into when the messages were sent. That information could be critical in legal proceedings or in the event of a cyberattack. The UK government has tasked M&C Saatchi with mounting a virulent anti-encryption campaign.
Since the privacy concerns have grown with the recent revelations of WhatsApp’s data sharing policy, the company has begun a damage-control campaign to address the issue. The company is relying heavily on end-to-end encryption to reassure users, but there are other methods available. The messaging app collects information about users’ location, contacts, how to see someone’s text messages online for free. It also shares that data with Facebook. However, users must accept the new terms and conditions of data sharing before the new privacy policy goes into effect.
Limitations of WhatsApp’s backups
WhatsApp is planning to introduce backup limits for users on Android. The service is currently offering unlimited storage plans, but this feature will soon be gone. Instead, users will need to pay for storage. To avoid this, WhatsApp plans to allow users to manage the size of their backups. The app’s code is also referencing Google Drive limits, so it is possible that the Mountain View company may limit the size of the backup.
To secure your data from the cloud, make sure that you have an end-to-end encrypted backup. WhatsApp uses a standard E2E encryption to protect its users’ communications. Despite this, it does not encrypt its backups or metadata. This means that while it is impossible for someone to read the messages, it does let authorities know the time and date the messages were sent.
Therefore, it is important to activate two-factor authentication on your account.
