WhatsApp to share user data with Facebook

While we would’ve thought WhatsApp was the more privacy conscious alternative to Facebook Messenger, it looks like that has changed. WhatsApp will now be sharing user data with its mother company, Facebook. And yes, this information will be used to sell more ads. While they won’t be seeing your messages as WhatsApp employs end-to-end encryption, what Facebook will be seeing is your metadata, or the data about your messages. So yes, they might be able to see your phone number and from that bit of information find out where you live and target more ads to you.

We already know Facebook collects as much data as it can from us, so it really was bound to happen that WhatsApp, which the social network bought for US$16 billion in 2014. Aside from phone number, though, both companies are pretty vague on what information WhatsApp will be sharing. But if you see the data points Facebook collects, you sort of get an idea what they might get from WhatsApp.

Source: Gizmodo

WhatsApp brings voicemail and call back options to Android beta app

If you’re using the beta version of WhatsApp on Android, the messaging app is bringing some new useful features. One is bringing voicemail to the service. It comes at a good time as some people are replacing the traditional messaging and phone apps to use the likes of WhatsApp and its other competitors. Aside from that, the app also gets a call back feature.

For the voicemail feature, you’ll be able to use it when you call someone in your list and if they don’t answer, you get three options. One is to call again, cancel the call, or “Record voice message.” If you choose the last option, you’ll be taken to a different screen to record your voice message. If you want to try this out, you can gain access to the beta app via this link.

Source: SlashGear

WhatsApp now lets you share documents on web app

The web client for WhatsApp isn’t being left behind after the release of the desktop client. WhatsApp is bringing it up to par with mobile apps by letting users share documents. Before you could only share photos and videos as well as take photos using a webcam. To access the feature, simply head over to the attachment icon in the conversation window.

Source: Android Central

WhatsApp now encrypts all your messages

It doesn’t matter what device you’re running WhatsApp on, the Facebook-owned messaging service is using a “powerful form” of encryption to protect everything from photos, videos, group chats, to video calls. Android phones were the first to get “end-to-end” encryption back in 2014 but now it extends to iOS and other devices as well. This comes after the encryption controversy Apple and the FBI got into over an iPhone used by a suspected gunman. WhatsApp has already caused friction in Brazil earlier this year as a Facebook Inc. executive was arrested after the company said it can’t unscramble a user’s encrypted message.

The end-to-end encryption WhatsApp uses automatically encodes the message, which can only be unlocked by the sender and recipient. WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum says he believes consumers have the right to easy-to-use encryption to protect themselves not just from hackers and identity thieves but also from “rogue” governments that spy on their own citizens.

Source: AP