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WhatsApp updates the privacy policy
For many people, everyday life without WhatsApp is difficult to imagine. The messenger service has long been an important means of communication. But many are also skeptical since WhatsApp was taken over by Facebook in 2014. With this takeover, WhatsApp changed its privacy policy and started forwarding account information to Facebook. Facebook can then use this shared data to add missing information to its own user profiles.
The legal notices of WhatsApp say the following about Facebook or other WhatsApp-affiliated companies:
“With the help of the information that we share with you, you can operate, provide, improve, understand, individualize, support and market our services and your offers”
and:
“we may transfer your information to any of our affiliates or successors or any new owner”
Signal as a better alternative?
There are already some alternatives for the people who don’t want to use WhatsApp. Including the Signal app. The company is doing a lot to establish itself as an alternative. For example, the Messenger introduced the ability to send pictures in 4K quality.
Another advantage over other apps is the high standard for data security. All messages, pictures, videos and also the contact information are encrypted. The source code is open-source, i.e. publicly available. The operators of the app have no way of accessing user data. Signal also encrypts all files that the app saves on the smartphone.
A new function that differentiates the app from other messengers such as WhatsApp is the number of participants in group calls. Up to 16 users can now communicate with each other simultaneously within a group call. WhatsApp also offers the option of making group calls within the app, but the maximum number of participants is eight, i.e. half.
Another new feature of Signal is the prevention of screenshots on Android devices. If the user wants to prevent the taking of screenshots of a common chat, it is possible to deactivate this function in the app. Here, too, the WhatsApp competitor is one step ahead of the Facebook subsidiary.
Philipp Weimer / editors finanzen.net
Image Sources: Michele Ursi / Shutterstock.com
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