Is WhatsApp Safe: What You Need To Know

20 November 2023

WhatsApp has evolved from being just an instant messaging app to becoming a social phenomenon. It processes over two billion messages daily. However, despite its massive popularity, security experts have pointed out the app’s less-than-ideal security features. They have particularly the level of communication security it provides.

WhatsApp is constantly at the center of rumors and controversy. Is WhatsApp safe? In this article, we will debunk some of the myths surrounding WhatsApp and WhatsApp getting hacked.

WhatsApp And Hacking: Overview

Before the latest updates, WhatsApp did not encrypt the messages that you used to send with the help of the platform. This made it easy for anyone connected to the same network to see messages that were sent. To address this issue, WhatsApp released a new version. It includes message encryption to ensure the security of user communications.

However, recent reports indicate that the encryption used is not strong enough, making it possible to intercept communications even with this new version. Moreover, it’s because the encryption code that WhatsApp uses for Android devices is an MD5 hash of a device’s IMEI number in reverse format. On iOS devices, WhatsApp generates encryption keys by duplicating the MAC address of the Wi-Fi interface and generating an MD5 hash.

It is partially true that WhatsApp is not entirely secure, intercepting and decrypting messages requires that the attacker is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as you. They will also need to know your device’s IMEI number and have enough computer knowledge to capture network traffic. This will help them calculate the MD5 hash of the IMEI number and decrypt messages.

By taking some basic security measures, you can continue using WhatsApp without compromising your privacy. One such measure is to avoid using WhatsApp on public Wi-Fi networks. For example, those found in airports or coffee shops, as these networks may not be secure.

Additionally, it’s important to use basic security measures on your Wi-Fi network to prevent unauthorized users from connecting to it.

Myth 1

Banning WhatsApp can save you from recordkeeping fines.

Reality:

Firstly, there are numerous instances of businesses paying astronomical fines to authorities when their employees use WhatsApp in a non-compliant manner. Recent FINRA fines, where US regulators discovered that businesses had implemented ineffective channel blocks, brought this to light.

According to our 2023 Industry Insight survey, 59% of participants said their organization had outlawed the usage of WhatsApp and related apps. However, only 2.6% of respondents thought that outright banning would be a good idea. Besides, employees still use WhatsApp even after the channel is blocked, whether they like it or not.

This is due to a number of factors, including the app’s widespread use in daily life, its simplicity in texting, voice messaging, and attaching files. Furthermore, it also has a tendency for client-facing teams to use the apps that their clients prefer in order to streamline communication. Ban or no ban, teams will continue to communicate using WhatsApp. Companies that use it with non-compliance will continue to face fines from regulators. Is WhatsApp Safe? Yes.

Myth 2

You don’t need a dedicated WhatsApp business account – sending personal chats is fine.

Reality:

Nothing about utilizing WhatsApp for business purposes should ever become personal. Regulators won’t view it that way, even though employees may believe it’s acceptable to speak with clients (or discuss business-related issues) via personal WhatsApp accounts.

This is due to the fact that messages sent through personal accounts are not recorded and kept in a messaging archive. This makes it impossible for regulators or internal auditors to review them to determine whether or not discussions and activities are appropriate.

Regulators detest few things more than irreversible data. The emphasis now clearly lies on individual accountability when it comes to utilizing private devices for illicit conversations. Your WhatsApp Business account includes a business number linked to it for a reason.

In other words, guaranteeing that conversations are documented in a compliant manner removes compliance concerns while allowing staff members to keep up connections with clients and contacts on their favorite platforms. Is WhatsApp Safe? Yes.

Myth 3

All WhatsApp data collection solutions are the same.

Reality:

Incomplete data may hamper compliance attempts. Besides, delays in investigations can arise from not knowing which messages are transmitted, to whom, or when. Regulators won’t condemn you or shrug their shoulders if you don’t know all the answers.

Some companies claim that their solutions for communications would guarantee that all of your data is safe. But message emulators, like”app wrappers,” and scrapers, have significant technical drawbacks. These third-party services can not guarantee completeness, and they may record all WhatsApp messages sent from a device, including private ones, or cause metadata loss.

Above all, due to insufficient data collection, you run the risk of regulatory fines and reputational harm. Additionally, using a solution with direct API connectivity with Meta is the only method to ensure complete data capture since it allows you to obtain your data directly from the source. Is WhatsApp Safe? Yes.

Myth 4

The collection of WhatsApp data through third-party APIs is a comprehensive and compliant collection.

Reality:

The likelihood of weak connections increases with chain length. Although it could save internal work, licensing your communications acquisition solution to several suppliers adds risk and might even be against your terms of service.

Operational concerns associated with third-party indirect API solutions include hacker assaults and infringements on user privacy and security. Your client information will be at risk if a data breach happens farther down the multivendor chain. Besides, they will still hold you legally liable for the resulting damages.

The solutions are integrated, direct, and end-to-end, preventing possible financial and reputational effects. It provides you full visibility and control of your data without having to worry about a cascading effect. All you need to do is enable it. Is WhatsApp Safe? Yes.

Myth 5

You can’t use WhatsApp for business communications – it’s just not compliant.

Reality:

Although it may appear impossible to use WhatsApp for business interactions due to all of these beliefs, the actual question is: can you afford not to? It’s quite likely that your teams have begun using it to communicate with your clients and that they will be utilizing it in the near future. However, it’s never easy to get employees to support compliance, so forcing them to give up WhatsApp or utilizing a completely new communication channel isn’t the best course of action. Is WhatsApp Safe? Yes.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, organizations cannot bury their heads in the sand and rely on a risky third-party solution or channel ban, as authorities are adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards non-compliance. We now have a few options for folks who are trying to dispel the stereotypes and want to use WhatsApp for business.

If you have thoughts to share or want to know is WhatsApp safe, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

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Sarmind Safi

Sarmind is a Writer and an aspiring Editor who has experience in various short and long-form niches. Her academic pursuits intensely mold her industry background in content creation. She holds a Master's degree in Literature, and when not writing for professional purposes, she can be found re-reading old classics of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. She is super fond of cats and enjoys hours of doom-scrolling through memes on social media while cuddled up with a cup of desi chai. She likes to think she is an intellectual badass (colloquial: nerdy bore), and now all she needs is a sewing kit to complete the look!

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Google Meet Code 101: Learn All About The Platform’s Meeting Code

Google Meet is a popular video calling platform created by Google. Whether you are an individual or you are a business, you can connect with others on audio calls and video calls through the platform. Currently, Google Meet is mostly used for video conferences among friends, colleagues, or professionals. One person creates a meeting and sends a unique Google Meet code to others as an invitation to join. In this article, you will learn about the Google Meet platform and the utility of the Google Meet codes that are offered through a Google Meet invitation. Furthermore, you will also learn how the Google Meeting code works on the platform. Finally, you will find out how to join a meeting on Google Meet with the help of a meeting code. Hence, to learn more about the Google Meet code, read on through to the end of the article. What Is Google Meet? Larry Page and Sergey Brin launched Google in 1998 as a search engine. Since then, in twenty-five years, Google covered a lot of milestones, as it is now offering platforms for advertising, cloud computing, quantum computing, computer software, social media, eCommerce, and many more. Google created the Google Meet platform for video calling and video conferencing. Both individuals and businesses commonly use Meet for video conferences, meetings, and discussions. Although created as an extension of Google Hangouts, which is a messaging platform, Meet comes with its own sets of unique features. To log in to Google Meet, one needs to have a Google Account. Your Google account is the same as your Gmail. You need the same during Google Hangouts login as well. Google Meet is also known for enabling users to engage in secure conversations. Although Google sucks in certain cases when it comes to innovation, Google Meet is surely something that stands out. It is one of the most trusted platforms for holding video conferences. Even some of the biggest companies hold big video conferences through Google Meet. What Does The Google Meet Code Mean? According to Google Meet’s official sources, “Meet uses the same protections that Google uses to secure your information and safeguard your privacy. Meet video conferences are encrypted in transit, and our array of safety measures are continuously updated for added protection.” This is where the Google Meet code comes to play. Once you create a meeting on Google Meet, you will get a meet code, which you will need to share with the people you want to invite to the meeting. The Meet code and the Google Meet link are encrypted and hence provide essential protection for security. Basically, Google Meet codes act as meeting identifiers, which users use to invite and interact at meetings in which they are called upon. Every single meeting that took place on Google Meet, and all the meetings that will take place in the future, have a unique meeting code. This is done to offer security to the meeting so that someone does not get unauthorized access. How Does The Google Meet Code Work? If you observe the different Meet codes carefully, you will see that all of them are of ten letters that are divided into three parts in 3-4-3 order of the type xxx-yyyy-zzz. The dashes are given for ease of reading. While you enter a code on a Google Meet link, you will not need to enter the dashes, as Google Meet supports only codes of 10 characters. The link will look like this: https://meet.google.com/xxx-yyyy-zzz. Once you click on the link that you received as an invitation on your device, you will get to a page where you will need to enter the unique code. After you enter the Meet code of ten-letter, you will get access to view and interact with the meeting. However, you will get to the meeting only after the host approves of your joining and participation. After you get inside the meeting, you will find the Google meeting code at the bottom-left portion of the screen. To allow others to participate, you can share this code with others. Does Google Meet Have A Time Limit? Yes. Google Meet codes have a time limit. You cannot enter a meeting link with a meeting code after the code has expired. As per the claims of the official website of Google Meet, “Each meeting is given a unique meeting code which has an expiration time based on what Workspace product the meeting is created from.” To know more about the time limit of the Google Meet code, you can check Google Support. How To Join A Google Meet Conference? The following are the major ways through which you can join a Google Meet conference: 1. Using A Computer Browser Open the Google Meet website from your website browser, or type meet.google.com on the URL. Once you get to the Google Meet page, click on the ‘New Meeting’ option. If you want to join a meeting, click on the ‘Join with a code’ option, and enter the code. 2. Using Mobile App Download the Google Meet mobile app on your smartphone. You need to launch the application and sign in to your account. On the page, you can either create a New Meeting and if you want to join an existing meeting, you need to click on 'Join with a code.' 3. Using Mobile Browser Open a web browser app on your smartphone, and access the Google Meet website. Check the website as a desktop site. Otherwise, the link will ask you to download the app from Play Store. To create a meeting, tap on the New Meeting option, and click on ‘Join.’ Summing Up Hope this article was helpful for you in getting a better idea of what the Google Meet code is and how to use it. This code is unique to every meeting and actually helps to secure the meeting from unauthorized access. You will get access to the meeting only when you enter this ten-letter code after clicking on the link. Do you think Google Meet is secure and useful enough? Share with us what steps Google can take to make Meet better. More Resources: Best Business Meeting Agenda Examples How To Plan A Successful Corporate Event Looking For A Gardener: 8 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Professional

Top 5 Digital Wallet Apps for Android

On average, most people have bulky wallets. You have your debit and credit cards, driving license, cash, a couple of loyalty cards as well as your gym membership and library cards. You have to stow them in your purse or your back pocket every time you go out and this can be a major hassle sometimes when you don’t want to carry anything along. Luckily, technology has provided us a solution in the form of digital wallets that essentially enable you to carry your cash within your smartphone. App development companies launch wonderful apps each & every day. This is a new generation of secure and electronic payments and might just pave the way for a cashless future. Read also: App Development Benefits: Here’s Why You Should Go Mobile These days, you can find digital wallet apps for your smartphone and download the one that seems the most feasible to you. Listed below are the top 5 digital wallet apps you can get if you have an Android smartphone. App #1: Android Pay This is a digital wallet platform developed by Google that enables you to buy goods and services via an NFC-fingerprint system. Android Pay has struck deals with financial institutions and retailers that allows it to store your debit, credit, and gift and loyalty card information. In this way, you are able to make quick payments at retail outlets that support point-of-sale (POS) systems. You can also make payments online and on apps as well. It works by storing your Android Pay credit card information on the device and accesses it at store-specific apps or tap-to-pay retail locations. App #2: Samsung Pay You can use this digital wallet app with almost any point-of-sale system, which means that not only does it work with NFC, but also with standard retail terminals that boast the Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) and also the Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) readers, which are currently used for chip-based and traditional credit card transactions. For now, you can only use this digital wallet app with Samsung Galaxy smartphones that run on Android, but the new Samsung Pass will expand it to other devices as well and make contactless transactions easier. App #3: Gyft This app has earned a name for itself in the gift card landscape, which is a $100 billion annual market. With this platform, users are able to send, buy, redeem and manage gift cards from approximately 300 retailers and all through a mobile app. While it doesn’t replace your loyalty cards or credit cards, it focuses specifically on gift cards and allows you to upload them on the digital wallet app so you can use them online or in stores via the app. App #4: PayPal PayPal is one of the most trusted and popular mobile wallets that boasts nearly 173 million users spread in over 203 countries and using about 26 currencies. Not only can you store your debit and credit card information on this digital wallet, you can also connect it to your bank accounts directly. In this way, you can have a balance on your PayPal account for making a purchase whenever you want. You can download the app for free on your Android smartphone. App #5: eWallet This is one of the few digital wallet apps that are not available for free download. However, it is one of the top apps because it actually encrypts and stores your personal and sensitive financial data such as account numbers. It enables you to get access to all of them through touch ID for devices that support it or via one password. This app can be regarded as a true digital wallet because it can store everything from insurance cards and passports to library cards and loyalty programs.

How to Develop A Healthcare App?

Today, millions of people rely on their mobile devices to simplify their life. No matter which industry you look into, you will find that app optimization has become a core technology to offer the best services to the users. The trends have not stopped the industries but have expanded to the other sectors as well. For instance, medical sectors are looking forward to prioritizing mobile app optimization technology to offer better services to their patients. Despite mobile app optimization being on top of the trends, the heartbreaking fact is that only 2% of them use a healthcare software application to seek help. This shows that even after having a healthcare app, these companies cannot fulfill what a patient is looking for. With that being said, today, we will take you through the necessary steps that a medical software development agency needs to consider while developing a healthcare software application. How To Build An Effective Healthcare App? Who doesn’t want to have the convenience of booking an appointment with a doctor with a simple click or getting the right information to treat a medical patient in your home? Well, having a healthcare app can certainly make this dream into reality. But do we have any healthcare application today that is effective with what it's doing? No! This is the reason why only 2% of the patients use any kind of health care application. A mobile healthcare application needs to go through thorough planning and be well equipped with solutions to deal with “What If” scenarios. Below are the necessary steps a software development needs to take to create effective Healthcare Applications. Decide the type of healthcare app. Add functions that help the patients. Do your privacy and compliance research. Decide on the platform. Make your UI/UX design accessible. Test your app before submission. There we go, these are the steps that will help create a healthcare app that will resonate with your patient’s needs. Let’s understand every step clearly. Step 1: Decide The Type Before you can start developing a healthcare application, you first need to decide on the type answer in which category your idea fits in. just a look at the following list, you will know what we mean to say. Phone-To-Text Capabilities. Diagnosis Chatbots. Mobile Medication Alerts. With every item as great as the other one, you can easily lose track of your original idea. Hence, it is important to understand what kind of services you can offer in a better way. This will help you stick with the idea that will resonate with you. Step 2: Add Relevant Function Once you have decided on what type of healthcare application you will develop, the next part is to narrow down the type of function your audiences will accept from the applications. This phase is quite tricky as there can be several features that can be integrated into an application. If you are having a hard time deciding on features, the following list might help you decide on some of the functions. A Dashboard. Payment Portal. Reporting & Charting Function. Doctor Profile with Geolocation. User Portal. Real-time chat option. Doctor & Patients community. Step 3: Privacy & Compliance Research Privacy is one of the most important parts of a healthcare application. Unlike other software applications, healthcare applications are subjected to fierce legislation. Before you can launch the app in the market, you will first need a certificate through the HIPAA (Health insurance Portability And Accountability Act). Step 4: Decide A Platform Any application needs a platform to operate itself. While developing a healthcare application, you need to decide for which platform you are developing the software. Today app optimization is a trendy subject, and most of the app optimization processes are happening for mobile phones. Hence,k look into the analytics and then decide which platform caters to most of your audiences and develop accordingly. Step 5: Accessible UI/UX Design While we are talking about a healthcare application, the user interface and user experience play a major role. Given the vulnerability of apps and lacking user experience, you must focus on the following. Focus on consistency while mapping. Spend some time on things that your users are expecting from your applications. Minimize the number of breaking points for patient users. Maintain a simple, clean, and uncomplicated design. Step 6: Test Run Your App Professional software running is worth putting your piney and time into. Test run of these software helps you give insight on the loopholes of the newly born applications. You can take this chance to further revamp the healthcare apps. Here is how a test run of a healthcare app is necessary. To know the threshold of your healthcare application. To find hidden bugs. To avoid privacy leaks and ensure the safety of patients’ sensitive information. To ensure the app is users friendly and working smoothly with the best UI/UX. Conclusion A healthcare app can be a game-changer to the healthcare industry. People will be able to seek medical attention with the help of these apps. Hence, these apps will be able to save more lives. Following these six steps, you would be able to outline your healthcare application and will be able to develop an application that offers tailor-made solutions to the patients. More Resources: Why Spy Phone Are Beneficial To Use? Brief Mobile Trading Apps Comparison The Business Advantages of Mobile CRM Apps

Is WhatsApp Safe: What You Need To Know