MSGID: 2:221/1.58@fidonet 0124a3d0   
   PID: OpenXP/5.0.51 (Win32)   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   TZUTC: -0400   
      
   FYI,  gleened from Durov's Telegram channel, Oct 5..   
      
   [start]   
      
   "Hackers could have full access (!) to everything on the phones of WhatsApp   
   users.   
      
   "This was possible through a security issue disclosed by WhatsApp itself   
   (https://www.whatsapp.com/security/advisories/2022/) last week. All a hacker   
   had to do to control your phone was send you a malicious video or start a   
   video call with you on WhatsApp.   
      
   "You are probably thinking "Yeah, but if I updated WhatsApp to the latest   
   version, I am safe, right"?   
      
   "Not really.   
      
   "A WhatsApp security issue exactly like this one was discovered in 2018   
   (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/10/whatsapp-bug-let-hackers-hijack   
   accounts-with-a-video-call-reports.html), then another in 2019 (   
   ttps://www.ft.com/content/4da1117e-756c-11e9-be7d-6d846537acab) and yet   
   another one in 2020 (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets   
   news/whatsapp-reveals-six-security-issues-that-could-have-got-it   
   -users-hacked/articleshow/77925426.cms) (tap each year's link to see the   
   corresponding vulnerability). And yes, in 2017 (https://telegra.   
   h/whatsapp-backdoor-01-16) before that. Prior to 2016, WhatsApp didn't have   
   encryption at all.   
      
   "Every year, we learn about some issue in WhatsApp that puts everything on   
   their users' devices at risk. Which means it's almost certain that a new   
   security flaw already exists there. Such issues are hardly incidental - they   
   are planted backdoors. If one backdoor is discovered and has to be removed,   
   another one is added (read the post "Why WhatsApp will never be secure   
   (https://telegra.ph/Why-WhatsApp-Will-Never-Be-Secure-05-15)" to understand   
   why).   
      
   "It doesn't matter if you are the richest person on earth - if you have   
   WhatsApp installed on your phone, all your data from every app on your device   
   is accessible, as Jeff Bezos found out in 2020 (https://www.theg   
   ardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-   
   acked-by-saudi-crown-prince). That's why I deleted WhatsApp from my devices   
   years ago. Having it installed creates a door to get into your phone.   
      
   "I'm not pushing people to switch to Telegram here. With 700M+ active users   
   and 2M+ daily signups, Telegram doesn't need additional promotion. You can use   
   any messaging app you like, but do stay away from WhatsApp - it has now been a   
   surveillance tool for 13 years.   
      
   [stop]   
      
   Personally, I find Telegram a great little comm app to use between friends.   
      
      
   --- OpenXP 5.0.51   
    * Origin: A turtle that surfs the dark web. [o] A TORtoise (2:221/1.58)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 15/0 90/1 103/705 105/81 106/201 120/340 123/131 124/5016   
   SEEN-BY: 129/305 153/757 7715 154/10 203/0 218/700 221/1 6 360 226/30   
   SEEN-BY: 227/114 229/110 111 112 113 206 275 317 400 424 426 428 452   
   SEEN-BY: 229/470 550 664 700 240/5832 266/512 280/464 5003 282/1038   
   SEEN-BY: 292/854 8125 301/1 310/31 317/3 320/219 322/757 341/66 234   
   SEEN-BY: 342/200 396/45 423/81 120 460/58 633/267 280 281 384 412   
   SEEN-BY: 633/416 418 509 712/848 770/1 2452/250   
   PATH: 221/1 280/464 633/280 229/426