“pple’s security and encryption strategies have received a lot of attention lately, from the way in which iOS devices’ data are locked down to how Apple doesn’t have the encryption keys the iMessage and FaceTime systems employ to secure its users’ communications to how Secure Enclave keeps our secrets secret.,” Glenn Fleishman writes for Macworld.
“But WhatsApp, an app-based text, video, and voice service with a billion users, took the spotlight Tuesday with the news that its users have end-to-end encryption as well,” Fleishman writes. “WhatsApp has a couple of legs—and maybe an arm or two—up on Apple, which has designed iMessage and FaceTime to exclude itself from the equation.”
“Both Apple and WhatsApp, acquired by Facebook in 2014, can’t gain access to the encryption keys used to secure communications sessions,” Fleishman writes. “But WhatsApp’s approach and user interface go even farther, in ways that Apple should be considering — and, for all we know, may be building into their operations right now.”
Much more in the full article – recommended – here.
MacDailyNews Take: We have a feeling that Apple has doubled-down on security due to recent events. The fruits of which will likely begin to be revealed at WWDC in two months time.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]
Doesn’t WhatsApp do data mining for FaceBook?
Good question. When Whatsapp became linked to Facebook I immediately stopped using it.
I do find it surprising that it is more secure as they say.
“Both Apple and WhatsApp, acquired by Facebook in 2014, can’t gain access to the encryption keys used to secure communications sessions,” Fleishman writes.
Apple was acquired by Facebook in 2014? That’s news to me. Before writing tech stories, perhaps Fleishman should repeat his high school English courses.
I had to re-read that also. Boggles the mind.
What was that bit about not being able to delete conversations in iMessage?
It’s great to see competing end-to-end encrypted messaging programs, trying to up each other and better benefit the user. Neither is perfect and data mining is a concern. But with our world governments going maniacal on citizen surveillance, for no good reason (!), we’ll deal with the marketing stuff later.