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WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees

blog.whatsapp.com

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Re: WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees

#4

Post by ultramancool »

mcpherrinm wrote: post #3
ENTP wrote: post #2

I, for one, shudder at the thought of Facebook getting my banking messages. Telegram has been a great alternative although it's not perfect.

I'd be much more nervous about Telegram getting that data.

It's a toss up:

- WhatsApp uses reputable cryptography from reputable sources, but combines it with a UI so much designed for ease of use that it throws out the possibility of real security

- Telegram uses extremely questionable cryptography to begin with from people who probably shouldn't be designing cryptosystems

If you want real security, go use Signal or better, OTR where socialist millionaire's is still an option for key verification.

Re: WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees

#5

Post by mintplant »

> Starting this year, we will test tools that allow you to use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses and organizations that you want to hear from. That could mean communicating with your bank about whether a recent transaction was fraudulent, or with an airline about a delayed flight.

Sounds a lot like what WeChat has been doing in China with their Official Accounts.

Best explanation I could find quickly: http://knowledge.ckgsb.edu.cn/2016/01/13/ecommerce/welcome-t...

Instead of, say, downloading the Uber app to get a ride, you'd open up WeChat and message its app account.

Re: WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees

#6

Post by gberger »

Telegram has its Bot API which, among many other things, makes it possible for any organization or individual to create applications that "allow you to use [Telegram] to communicate with businesses and organizations that you want to hear from".

Telegram offers this for free.

Re: WhatsApp will no longer charge subscription fees

#9

Post by sayhar »

ultramancool wrote: post #4
mcpherrinm wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be much more nervous about Telegram getting that data.

It's a toss up: - WhatsApp uses reputable cryptography from reputable sources, but combines it with a UI so much designed for ease of use that it throws out the possibility of real security - Telegram uses extremely questionable cryptography to begin with from people who probably shouldn't be designing cryptosystems If you want real security, go use Signal or better, OTR where socialist millionaire's is still an opti…

> OTR where socialist millionaire's is still an option for key verification.

Can you explain the socialist millionaire comment? I don't get it.

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