Re: [tlug] Skype or Something Better: Whatsapp

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <turnbull.stephen.fw@example.com>]

steve writes:
 > On 02/14/2017 10:49 AM, Stephen J. Turnbull wrote:
 > > CL writes:
 > >
 > >   > Whatsapp has end-to-end encryption once it is set up ... or so the
 > >   > message says.
 > 
 > Is Facebook's ownership of Whatsapp a problem?

No.

It's *end-to-end* encryption.  The keys are generated on the client
devices, not on the server.  There is a MITM exploit involving forced
rekeying (which is what the Guardian blew out of proportion), but it
would immediately be detected by somebody because it's (a) unusual and
(b) annoying.

OK, so 99% of the world (including you) won't notice, but I assure you
if it happens it *will* be noticed, and people will get seriously
upset and even FaceBunk would have to back down (and probably pay out
billions).

So OK, if Zuckerberg really really wants to get a handful of messages
from a few non-paranoid people at the expense of a national security
scandal for the sake of 1/1000000 additional clickthroughs compared to
just inflating the numbers, yeah, he *can* do that.  It's not
something to worry about though.