WhatsApp in damage-control mode after its Facebook-or-die ultimatum - Android Police
WhatsApp in damage-control mode after its Facebook-or-die ultimatum - Android Police |
| WhatsApp in damage-control mode after its Facebook-or-die ultimatum - Android Police Posted: 12 Jan 2021 12:00 AM PST This story was originally published and last updated . Facebook has a long history of privacy lapses, including some more serious ones, and the mere fact that it owns some of the most widely used social media apps already concerns privacy-conscious users. While WhatsApp was still able to keep a fair distance from Facebook's unreliable privacy practices, that fringe benefit is soon going away, as the messaging app has decided to enforce new usage terms that give its parent company more control over your WhatsApp data. An in-app notification sent over the past week gives nearly all WhatsApp users until February 8 to accept some new clauses introduced in the app's terms of service and privacy policy. For the moment you can dismiss the pop-up without accepting anything — but it won't stay like that for long. This notice is essentially an ultimatum requiring you to accept the new terms, or else be prepared to lose access to your WhatsApp account — there's no middle ground.
(via: The Hacker News) Many of us would mindlessly agree to this regular-looking policy update, but diving a little deeper into the text tells you how Facebook's plan to use your WhatsApp data comes into play here. Hitting that "accept" button will give the IM app your irrevocable nod to share any information that it holds on you with Facebook and its various subsidiaries. This possibly comes as a part of Facebook's recent efforts to tightly integrate all its messaging services — Messenger, Instagram DM, and WhatsApp — under one umbrella. In a similar policy change back in 2016 (about two years after being acquired by Facebook), WhatsApp gave its users a one-time option to opt-out of such overt data sharing with its parent company, but unfortunately, you don't have that option this time around. The data points that all Facebook companies can access may include your account details, any metadata associated with your chats, your financial transactions (over WhatsApp Pay), and even some information that the app automatically collects, like your log reports, device and network details, and your location (approximate, even if you haven't consented location sharing). It's worth pointing out that your WhatsApp chats and calls are still end-to-end encrypted, so neither Facebook nor WhatsApp can directly access your messages. However, all the associated metadata is nothing short of a digital treasure, which Facebook can use to target its services and ads better. Having said that, these policy changes apply everywhere except the EU, where WhatsApp has to work according to robust GDPR guidelines. While these are the primary concerns, the new policy also notes that the service will have no ads for now, indicating that this stance could change in the future. Plus, WhatsApp clarifies that any information you share with business accounts on its platform could be shared by that outfit with other third parties, which may be governed by their respective privacy policies. Given the widespread outrage, there's a (very) slight chance that WhatsApp may repeal these changes or at least give the affected users an option to opt out of this forced data sharing agreement without losing access to all their existing chats and groups. However, I won't put my money on it. If the company decides to go ahead as planned, you should at least go through the revised terms before making the call on staying with WhatsApp or switching to independent alternatives like Telegram and Signal. WhatsApp clarifies WhatsApp's recent policy change has stirred a much-needed conversation over data privacy even among those who aren't as technically inclined, leading to people moving to other platforms en masse. This naturally troubled WhatsApp, which is now trying to do some damage control by clearing the air over some rumors.
Using a nicely laid-out infographic (above), it clarifies that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can read your private messages, while the accompanying text lists out the things it does not share with its parent company. However, it deliberately doesn't talk about the information and metadata it in fact collects and shares with Facebook because that would've turned into a much longer list. WhatsApp additionally notes how it plans to offer Facebook's hosting services to WhatsApp Business accounts and integrate Facebook Shops in the chat app. Your interaction with these Shops will indeed be used to personalize ads across Facebook and Instagram.
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| Posted: 07 Feb 2021 11:34 PM PST  KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Don't you hate having to memorise multiple passwords for all the different websites, apps, accounts and services that you use? Fortunately, Microsoft has launched its Autofill solution. The Redmond tech giant has made it available to all users through the Microsoft Authenticator app. It is also available via an extension for Google Chrome. Previously, the Redmond-based company announced back in December that it was developing a new multi-platform password manager that was built into the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app. The concept behind Autofill is very similar to Apple's Keychain feature and many other password managers on the market. With it, you can store and automatically insert account credentials for various websites, apps and services. Once it is set up, passwords saved to a Microsoft account will automatically synchronise across the different platforms. So, instead of having to remember each one of those passwords, Autofill handles that for you. This means users only need to memorise their Microsoft Account username and password.
Users would be able to view, edit or delete details of their logins via the app or the browser extension. In addition, Chrome users can manage their credentials within Chrome itself and are not forced to use the Edge browser. For Mac users, Autofill can be used via the Microsoft Edge web browser or with a Google Chrome extension. If you are using another password manager such as LastPass or 1Password you can import all your credentials into Microsoft Autofill using a CSV file. Microsoft added that it's safe to use the app as a password manager as Authenticator requires multi-factor authentication. This means you can set it to launch only after you enter your Pin code of use biometric methods like Face ID or fingerprint scanning to sign in. In addition, all your credentials will be encrypted. The Microsoft Authenticator app is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play. To use it you will need an iPhone or iPad running on iOS 11 or later while on Android you will need a device running on Android 6.0 or later. — SoyaCincau  |
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