Is WhatsApp the latest technology that can protect you from snooping Governments and Hackers?

The concern for privacy is always at the forefront of any human activity driven by technology, and this include communication. Among the media for communication, we have the mobile phone which has metamorphosed from the old desktop phones we know to powerful machines capable of complex functions. Just like personal computers, mobile phones have had their own share of privacy intrusion from people who do it for criminal gain to those who just engage in such intrusive activity just to prove what they can do when it comes to compromising complex devices, or are they?

The privacy of mobile phone, and other such devices like tablets, phablets etc., are usually compromised by malware usually picked up from surfing malware packed websites or from installing fake applications like games or even phony browsers as it were.

Today communication via phone as media encompasses text and chat messaging, video

and other digital files to mention a few. These files and data are however vulnerable in transit as anyone who knows just how, can decipher the content of messages so transmitted. This brings us to the focus of this post: the introduction of end-to-end encryption to the app, WhatsApp. WhatsApp, which has a billion users worldwide, said file transfers and voice calls are now encrypted. 

Owned by Facebook, its parent company, WhatsApp says that user privacy falls under its “core beliefs”, hence the need for the roll out of the new end-to-end encryption technology to protect private communication among her apps teeming users. 

Data encryption was again brought under the spotlight after the FBI asked Apple to help it access data on an iPhone used by California gunman Syed Farook, a request Apple declined, citing infringement of the company’s privacy policy of protecting user information – a request since honoured by an Israeli based company.

On 5^th of March, 2016, users of updated versions of the WhatsApp messenger were notified about the change when sending messages as it was enabled by default. This means, to benefit, both parties must have the updated version of the app.

Message contained in updated WhatsApp apps

to see if your contacts have the feature enabled, simply view their profile in your WhatsApp app. Those with updated messengers will have the message "messages you send to this chat and calls are not end-to-end encrypted. Tap for more info"

Not encrypted profile message

while those with updated messengers will have the message "messages you send to this chat and calls are secured end-to-end encryption." Note the "padlock" icon.

Encrypted profile message

This development has been described as a “huge victory” for freedom of speech, according to Amnesty International – the human rights watchdog - emphasising that it "is a major boost for people's ability to express themselves and communicate without fear". This view, however, is not shared by those in security circles. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, quoting a news source, the FBI attorney James Baker “reportedly criticised the move saying encryption threatens the work of law enforcement”. "It has public safety costs. Folks have to understand that, and figure out how they are going to deal with that," he said according to the report.

Indeed, it raises the question of how public security can be guaranteed since terror organisations can now communicate without their message contents sniffed since they are way out of the reach of even the apps creators -  if that is really the case, being that the encryption technology is itself a creation by a geek. Other messaging apps with end-to-end encryption include Telegram, which is known to be used by the Islamic State to share information – according to the BBC.

Away from WhatsApp and the law. Do inform your contacts on the need to update their apps to enjoy the end-to-end encryption feature of WhatApp to communicate securely. Do check back as as I will be updating this blog with information for your reading pleasure.

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