WhatsApp backdoor allows snooping on encrypted messages

["Dave Farber" <dave () farber net>]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
Date: Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 8:18 AM
Subject: WhatsApp backdoor allows snooping on encrypted messages
To: Infowarrior List <infowarrior () attrition org>
Cc: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>




WhatsApp backdoor allows snooping on encrypted messages



https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/13/whatsapp-backdoor-allows-snooping-on-encrypted-messages



A security backdoor that can be used to allow Facebook and others to
intercept and read encrypted messages has been found within its WhatsApp
messaging service.



Facebook claims that no one can intercept WhatsApp messages, not even the
company and its staff, ensuring privacy for its billion-plus users. But new
research shows that the company could in fact read messages due to the way
WhatsApp has implemented its end-to-end encryption protocol.



Privacy campaigners said the vulnerability is a “huge threat to freedom of
speech” and warned it can be used by government agencies to snoop on users
who believe their messages to be secure. WhatsApp has made privacy and
security a primary selling point, and has become a go to communications
tool of activists, dissidents and diplomats.



< - >



Boelter reported the backdoor vulnerability to Facebook in April 2016, but
was told that Facebook was aware of the issue, that it was “expected
behaviour” and wasn’t being actively worked on. The Guardian has verified
the backdoor still exists.



< - >



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