WhatsApp is now more secure and private than Apple iMessage

[Po1]

I'm a big iMessage user and I love my iPhone, but this blogger is right. Since Apple doesn't end-to-end encrypt iMessages in iCloud backup, WhatsApp is now the more secure and private messaging option for iPhone users.

I just hope that Apple changes their stance on this.

 

[NO🇳🇴]

"Messages are backed up in iCloud and encrypted if you enable iCloud Backup or Messages in iCloud"

"For your convenience, iMessages are backed up in iCloud and encrypted if you have enabled either iCloud Backup or Messages in iCloud"

Legal - Messages & Privacy- Apple

Data & Privacy

www.apple.com

 

[Apple_Robert]

"Messages are backed up in iCloud and encrypted if you enable iCloud Backup or Messages in iCloud"

"For your convenience, iMessages are backed up in iCloud and encrypted if you have enabled either iCloud Backup or Messages in iCloud"

Legal - Messages & Privacy- Apple

Data & Privacy

www.apple.com

That is misleading by Apple. If a person makes use of iCloud backup, Apple purposely attaches the encryption key to the back up so they have access to the data if they are compelled to provide it.

 

[Po1]

"Messages are backed up in iCloud and encrypted if you enable iCloud Backup or Messages in iCloud"

"For your convenience, iMessages are backed up in iCloud and encrypted if you have enabled either iCloud Backup or Messages in iCloud"

Legal - Messages & Privacy- Apple

Data & Privacy

www.apple.com

Yeah this is VERY misleading on Apple's part.

Apple is betting that people who read this don't know the difference between "encryption" and "end-to-end encryption".

As the poster above rightly explains, since your iCloud backed up messages are merely encrypted on iCloud Backup, Apple has the key and it will turn that key over to governments when they give Apple a court order to reveal your messages.

Apple is being super shady with the language it uses here.

 

[maryland]

What a misleading article. WhatsApp DID gain the feature to have backups encrypted with a password only the user knows, BUT IT IS NOT THE DEFAULT. Unencrypted backups is the default.

So Apple and WhatsApp/Meta are doing the same thing here. Having true e2e encryption, but only for the minority of users that can go beyond the default settings.

 

[NO🇳🇴]

That is misleading by Apple. If a person makes use of iCloud backup, Apple purposely attaches the encryption key to the back up so they have access to the data if they are compelled to provide it.

Yeah this is VERY misleading on Apple's part.

Apple is betting that people who read this don't know the difference between "encryption" and "end-to-end encryption".

As the poster above rightly explains, since your iCloud backed up messages are merely encrypted on iCloud Backup, Apple has the key and it will turn that key over to governments when they give Apple a court order to reveal your messages.

Apple is being super shady with the language it uses here.

But, apple would still need to get hacked for anyone to read your encrypted messages tho!?

And this also applies for the Legacy Contact too right? (Facebook style)

And, apple doesn't really seem like the most cooperative company, that whole FBI ordeal etc.

And probably depends on the individual.. If the government here wants to know what goes on, on my iphåne they just need to ask and they get my password. no contacting apple needed.

The only thing I'm worried about is getting hacked by some ******* on "Starbucks" or when connected to my home wifi, and seems like apple silicone products are far better at, not getting hacked? Private Relay etc.

 

[Apple_Robert]

But, apple would still need to get hacked for anyone to read your encrypted messages tho!?

And this also applies for the Legacy Contact too right? (Facebook style)

And, apple doesn't really seem like the most cooperative company, that whole FBI ordeal etc.

And probably depends on the individual.. If the government here wants to know what goes on, on my iphåne they just need to ask and they get my password. no contacting apple needed.

The only thing I'm worried about is getting hacked by some ******* on "Starbucks" or when connected to my home wifi, and seems like apple silicone products are far better at, not getting hacked? Private Relay etc.

Apple can hand over your data to the government and has many times before.

 

[SW3029]

I remember a few months ago when MR reported on Zuck boasting that WhatsApp was now more private and secure than iMessage. Zuck used the end to end encrypted backup feature in WA as proof of that.

And Zuck was right. And I and some other MR readers said, though we hated Zuck and FB, WA is now more private and secure than Apple's iMessage because iMessages are not E2E encyrpted in iCloud backups – and we got crucified for it in the forums for saying so.

But we were right. Zuck is right. The FC article is right.

Apple needs to step up and offer end to end encyrption on iCloud Backups.

 

[NO🇳🇴]

I bet James Bond (sry Jason Bourne) just remembers his messages, and doesn't even bother to encrypt it. Just deletes it like a badass. he is so cool.

 

[Smigit]

But, apple would still need to get hacked for anyone to read your encrypted messages tho!?

And this also applies for the Legacy Contact too right? (Facebook style)

And, apple doesn't really seem like the most cooperative company, that whole FBI ordeal etc.

The FBI case concerned Apple refusing to put in a back door to bypass local device encryption. In the case Apple even noted they can and do co-operate with law enforcement for data hosted in their servers (iCloud) frequently. The FBI wanted a local unlock in that case as their was believed to be data not accessible via a request to a cloud platform on the phone.

Apple drew a line, but it’s one where data on their server can be accessed by law enforcement if the relevant legal hoops have been jumped through. They’re open about this.

So yeah, people concerned about their data being accessed by apple or law enforcement may not want to use iCloud.

 

[Choco Taco]

Nothing owned by Facebook/Meta will ever be more secure than literally anything else on planet earth.

 

[Devin Breeding]

Nothing owned by Facebook/Meta will ever be more secure than literally anything else on planet earth.

This^^
Entire business model is data capture and advertisements. Think your data is safe with them?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Not sure if it matters but I have iMessage in iCloud settings turned off on all devices.. Regardless, WhatsApp or any app owned by Meta never has and never will be installed on my devices..

 

[NO🇳🇴]

oh look, apple read this thread too haha.

Apple advances user security with powerful new data protections

iMessage Contact Key Verification, Security Keys, and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud provide users important new tools to protect data.

www.apple.com