Tag Archives: whatsapp

Why you need a better handle on the WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram apps

You’ve likely heard by now that encrypted messaging apps are a good way to keep your communications private. But there’s a good chance you’re not totally sure what makes them so safe. It’s OK. You have company. New research from experts in computer science has found that even though many people are using secure messaging …

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The ultimate guide to China’s apps beyond the Great Firewall

Almost a fifth of the world’s population lives in China. But because of the country’s so-called Great Firewall of censorship, its 772 million internet users can’t use the world’s most popular apps — they’re restricted to locally developed versions instead. Apps by FAANG companies — Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google — either are blocked or feature minimal services in the …

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WhatsApp messages and usernames can be faked, researchers find

Previously delivered WhatsApp messages can reportedly be tweaked to change the content or the sender’s identity. Check Point Software Technologies found that hackers can create an altered version of the WhatsApp app and change a quoted message, one that is being replied to, The New York Times reports. Hackers could change the content or the sender, the researchers reportedly found.  Facebook-owned …

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India asks telecoms to explore blocking Facebook, WhatsApp

India’s government reportedly asked telecoms to figure out how to block messaging apps if they are misused. Telecom service providers, along with mobile and internet industry bodies, were asked to explore options for blocking Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram in a July letter from India’s department of telecommunication, according to Reuters. A department official told Reuters that it was looking …

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Voice calls on mobile networks see first

If you feel like you hardly use your phone to actually talk to anyone, you’re not alone.  In 2017, for the first time ever, the number of calls on traditional mobile networks fell in the UK, according to a Thursday report by telecommunications regulator Ofcom. The total volume declined by 1.7 percent, the report says. The survey also highlights how dependent …

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Facebook is ready for WhatsApp to start making money

Facebook is putting WhatsApp to work. WhatsApp said Wednesday that it’s expanding the ways businesses can connect with people on the popular Facebook-owned messaging app. But businesses will have to pay to send certain messages, marking the free app’s first major move to pull in revenue. Businesses will be able to do things like provide real-time customer service and send …

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WhatsApp’s four

WhatsApp launched its four-person group video and voice calling on Tuesday. The feature allows up to four people to join a call both the iOS and Android versions of the app, regardless of their location, the company said. During a one-on-one call, you can now tap the new “add participant” icon in the top right corner to add people. “Group …

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WhatsApp fights mob violence in India by limiting message forwarding

WhatsApp has rolled out changes that will limit the amount of message forwarding, following a spate of mob violence and lynchings in India caused by WhatsApp-spread misinformation. “We believe that these changes — which we’ll continue to evaluate — will help keep WhatsApp the way it was designed to be: a private messaging app,” the company wrote in a Friday blog …

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WhatsApp’s new forwarding feature may actually save lives

WhatsApp is making it easier to tell where your messages are coming from in order to quash fake news. And the ramifications could save lives. Starting Tuesday, WhatsApp will label which messages you receive have been forwarded to you. The company announced on its blog that the feature is available on the latest version of WhatsApp. WhatsApp says this helps …

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WhatsApp fights fake news with Indian newspaper ads

WhatsApp took out newspaper ads to combat fake news in India on Tuesday, after rumors sparked the lynching of five men. WhatsApp The full-page ads, which ran in English, Hindi and other languages in daily papers, include tips for spotting fake news messages on WhatsApp. Readers are advised to check if a message has been forwarded — WhatsApp is rolling …

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