One for all, and all for one.
It seems like Mark Zuckerberg is preparing himself for the final countdown. The final blow to end users privacy, and not just Facebook users, but WhatsApp, and Instagram users, for all three are under his wings, his umbrella of “TRUST”, his massive data collecting empire which feeds itself from the thoughts, feelings, passions, interests, and posts of others, a Vampiric data sucking machine.
Facebook has proven, time and time again, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it is more than willing to infringe on your privacy if it’s efforts brings them a little more cash.
WhatsApp and Instagram are part of the Facebook companies, which means they share data with one another.
If someone is concerned about how Facebook has been handling, or rather mishandling their information, and prefer not to use Facebook Messenger and install Instagram instead, thinking to bypass the data collection of their messages, it matters not, for when it comes to the three free services it’s:
“One for all and all for one”
The three most popular instant messaging apps will now be running on the same messaging infrastructure, different apps, but the same communication network. All three owned by Facebook, a company with a terrible track record of protecting users data and privacy.
A Silver Lining?
Some have some positive things to say about this endeavour:
“Some former Facebook security engineers and an outside encryption expert said the plan could be good news for user privacy, in particular by extending end-to-end encryption.”
I would truly like to know who that outside encryption expert is. We have all been fooled by this end 2 end encryption ruse. WhatsApp, Facebook Messengers Private Chats, both offer end 2 end encryption that is true, however they offer end 2 end encryption based on 1970’s technology! End 2 end encryption has become a BUZZ word in the media, so much so that the Australian Government, last year, passed an anti end 2 end encryption law. Let’s face the facts here, and you encryption experts please feel free to chime in.
End-to-end encryption is a system of communication where only the communicating users can read the messages. Ok, so far so good, but how does this process work ?
First the two parties wanting to communicate with each other, using end to end encryption, must exchange keys. During this key exchange process is where the dreaded Man In The Middle Attack can occur. Rather than trying to break the encryption, an eavesdropper/hacker/NSA may impersonate a message recipient (during key exchange by substituting his public key for the recipient’s), so that messages are encrypted with a key known to the attacker. After decrypting the message, the hacker can then encrypt it, read it, alter it, and send the message on again to avoid detection. This weak point in end 2 end encryption has been there ever since its existence, but wait, there’s more.
Let us not overlook a companies willingness to introduce a backdoor into software, allowing them to bypass whatever protections they have in place. Skype had a backdoor which allowed Microsoft to hand over their users’ messages to the NSA despite the fact that those messages were officially end-to-end encrypted, do we think that Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger has not done, or would not do the same?
Let’s think about this for a short minute.
- Facebook, riddled with privacy and data scandals to the point that Mark Zuckerberg had to appear before a joint hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees after it became clear that the personal information of up to 87 million users, mostly in the United States, was improperly shared with a political consultancy.
- The regulator that oversees Facebooks activities in the EU said it will stop the integration of WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram if it breaches privacy laws.
- Last year a plan to share data between WhatsApp and Facebook was ruled as illegal by the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Add these 3 points up, and you tell me, “ Facebook would never implement a backdoor into any of their messengers.”
Even though its investors are concerned about snowballing legal and regulatory efforts over data use polices, and Facebook has seen its shares drop by 24%, they would never implement a backdoor in exchange for a green light to merge and operate their messengers in the EU, or to fend off legal attacks, or political pressure, no no, Facebook cares to much for their users privacy and data security.
Perhaps we need to look elsewhere.
There are many alternatives to WhatsApp or Messenger, though most of them fall into the same category, which is that they are Free, and if they are free how do they make any money? Yep, back to square one, they also make their money by selling users data.
Signal
Signal Instant Messenger is a preferred choice by people who do care about their privacy, however once again it is free. Signal is not a Non-Profit organization it obtains most of its funding from grants and donations. However its biggest donor is “Open Technology Fund” which is actually a U.S. government program that also funds projects like Tor. Hmmmm.
Signal >> Home_Signal is made for you. As an Open Source project supported by grants and donations, Signal can put users first. There…_signal.org
WeChat has taken China by storm and it is common knowledge that the app has been subsidized by the Chinese Government since its creation in 2011, and it’s an accepted reality that officials censor and monitor users.
WeChat - Free messaging and calling app_Available for all kinds of platforms; enjoy group chat; support voice,photo,video and text messages._www.wechat.com
Crypviser
Crpviser is a Cyber Security Company based in Germany, one of the very few companies which have embraced Blockchain Technology and in doing so have eliminated Man in the Middle attacks. They are also the only Instant Messenger which runs on a Decentralized Network, meaning their service has no single entry point to either Block or Shut down, people in China have been able to use this Messenger to communicate with others outside of the country. Crypviser is NOT a FREE app, they run on a subscription based business model, thereby doing away with advertising or selling users data, which brings me to another point, they collect no information whatsoever, no names, no mobile numbers, no email address. The subscription for a year is less than a cup of coffee a month.
Crypviser Secure Messenger. The worlds most secure and private messenger, built using Blockchain…_The worlds most secure and private messenger, built using Blockchain Technology._crypviser.network
There are alternatives out there for those who seek it, for those who are tired of being nothing more than cannon fodder for Facebook and its companies.
The next Facebook Scandal is just around the corner.
WhatsApp is Facebook. Messenger is Facebook. Instagram is Facebook.
One for all, and all for one.
The three of them are having a party, and you, you are their main course.