Mark Zuckerberg says WhatsApp is more secure and reliable than iMessage. In fact, these messengers each have distinct security weaknesses.
After mutual criticism of the metaverse, the rants between Facebook and Apple continue more than ever. Mark Zuckerberg, in a photo posted on his Instagram account on Monday, attacks Apple’s iMessage messaging system. He denounces the lack of security and praises the merits of WhatsApp, another application of his he group Meta. Yet the two apps each show different signs of weakness when it comes to security. Apple for its lack of interoperability and security between devices, WhatsApp for its limitations in reporting.
iMessage, encrypted … between iPhones
In fact, Apple uses end-to-end encryption when sending messages. Therefore, the content cannot be decrypted by the company’s servers. Also, when an iPhone sends a message to an Android device, a green bubble appears. A blue bubble appears between two iPhones. This color scheme reveals much more because encryption doesn’t apply if an iPhone communicates with an Android device, as Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t hesitate to point out.
Encrypted messages can be saved on iCloud, but the Apple brand specifies that it can communicate this data to the authorities in the event of a search warrant. However, you can disable iCloud backups or do it directly on a computer using encryption.
Apple continues its iPhone-only policy. The iOS 16 update allows you to cancel sending messages up to two minutes later and edit them up to five times. This requires both devices to have iOS 16 installed, and again, it’s for iPhone to iPhone communication only.
WhatsApp, encrypted, but …
For its part, WhatsApp uses the same type of encryption as other so-called “secure” applications, such as Signal. However, this encryption can be easily revoked once a message is flagged as inappropriate. From then on, WhatsApp’s moderation teams have access to the previous four messages. In the event of a report, WhatsApp may decide to carry out an automated moderation analysis using artificial intelligence to take the necessary, but also human, measures.
In general, WhatsApp, on the other hand, has access to the user’s metadata, which are never encrypted: phone number, name, associated account or even the time of sending messages are accessible to its teams.
The issue of confidentiality also arises when a company trades with its customers on WhatsApp. Indeed, if the messages are encrypted between two people, this is not necessarily the case when a user exchanges with a professional, for example for after-sales service or the sale of products at a distance. How WhatsApp explains itthe trader is free to encrypt the conversations or not, or to use the content of these exchanges for marketing purposes.
As for the deletion of messages, WhatsApp offers its users the ability to make them disappear after sending and to delete chats after 24 hours, seven days or 90 days.
End of September, Facebook was prosecuted for allegedly establishing an alternative solution to Apple’s latest privacy policies. This allows users to opt out of being tracked by apps at any time.
