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How Secure are Instant Messengers? [T-break Tech (Middle East)]
[November 10, 2014]

How Secure are Instant Messengers? [T-break Tech (Middle East)]


(T-break Tech (Middle East) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The internet today is largely filled with packet sniffers and security surveillance agencies, intercepting every data sent or received. So, want some fine details whether your favorite messaging app is really protecting your messages? An international non-profit digital rights group called the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has carried out a brief research about the security protocols provided by all the major instant messaging apps.



EFF plans to perform tests in phases, and the first phase scorecard is published by the group. Basically, the app will be tested for several vulnerabilities. Encrypting the data in transit makes it hard for packet sniffers to capture data. There are high chances that the internet provider themselves can read through your data, so shielding the messages would be essential as well. For example, Apple declared themselves that the iCloud data can't be intercepted by them. This also will protect your data from surveillance agencies worldwide.

Other points researched includes whether an individual can truly identify their contact's identities, documenting and auditing of security design codes and so on. The scorecard was rather disappointing. Although when most of the IM's do encrypt messages in transit, AIM, BBM, Facebook Chat, Google Hangouts, Kik, WhatsApp, Viber and Yahoo Messenger doesn't shield your data from service providers. The presence of BBM itself was a surprise too after Blackberry praised high about their instant messenger being the most secure platform.


The good news is that Skype, Blackberry Protected, FaceTime, and iMessage qualifies for protecting your data from internet services. The dedicated encrypted messengers such as ChatSecure/Orbot, CryptoChat, RetroShare, RedPhone, Silent Phone and Text Secure bagged impressive scores. Furthermore, the famous known Secret had a disappointing score despite being an anonymous service. EFF stated that they plan to study further and publish the second phase report soon, let's hope the makers of all these apps take up the responsibility to strengthen their security over the web.

Click here to read through the Phase 1 scorecard.

The post How Secure are Instant Messengers? appeared first on tbreak.ae.

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