Jump to content

WhatsApp chats leave a record even after deletion


Night Hunter

Recommended Posts

gettyimages-540896666.jpg

If you're a WhatsApp user with an iPhone, your chats might not be as secure as you think.
 
Despite the popular messaging app's announcement earlier this year that it would encrypt all user data, a security researcher said Friday that the latest version of WhatsApp for Apple's iOS software for iPhones leaves some information vulnerable. The researcher, Jonathan Zdziarski, found traces of deleted chats, which can be pieced together into conversations, he said, and that's even if you've cleared or archived them.
 
Zdziarski wrote in a blog post that such traces can linger "for months." And he also said it looks like the only way to truly shred the chats is to delete WhatsApp from your phone. Zdziarski added that Apple's iMessage software also suffers from the problem, something he wrote about in March.
 
Neither Facebook-owned WhatsApp nor Apple immediately responded to a request for comment.
 
The issue of privacy and encryption -- coding messages so they can be read only by the intended recipient -- came to the fore in 2013 after Edward Snowden leaked secret documents about the US National Security Agency's appetite for gathering people's digital data.
 
It's since fueled spats between the tech industry and governments around the world. One in particular involved an FBI demand that Apple help hack into the iPhone of a terrorist. Another involved Brazilian law enforcement's desire to have access to WhatsApp users' chats.
 
Zdziarski said there's no need for WhatsApp users to panic about the deleted-chats issue but that they should be aware that law enforcement and others could potentially access supposedly trashed conversations. He also listed ways to mitigate the issue, here.
 
WhatsApp said in February that 1 billion people were using the app, on various devices.
 
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is huge news! Holy shit!

 

I mean, it's not like deleted information can be recovered in any other facet of digital technology!

 

Hah. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is huge news! Holy shit!

 

I mean, it's not like deleted information can be recovered in any other facet of digital technology!

 

Hah.

You mean even after I clear my browser history and use "Private Mode" my girlfriend can still tell that I watched my midget pr0n?! :gasp:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You mean even after I clear my browser history and use "Private Mode" my girlfriend can still tell that I watched my midget pr0n?! :gasp:

Your GF is in ICT? Mine doesnt even know what 'private mode' is ;).... And i hope she doesnt have XP in that midget stuff ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.