Tech

WhatsApp says you shouldn't worry about it sharing personal data with Facebook. Experts say you should switch to 'highly trusted' Signal.

WhatsApp previously sold itself as a privacy focused service. NurPhoto/Getty Images WhatsApp's new policy about sharing data with Facebook has concerned many of its users. Experts told Insider that although the app won't share message content, it will share who, where,  and when you talk to people. All of them recommended that users switch to Signal, a smaller encrypted messaging app, as it's "highly trusted." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. After a change to its terms ...
Tags: Apple, Google, Facebook, Trends, Whatsapp, Leicester, Signal, University of Surrey, De Montfort University, Wolfie Christl, Eerke Boiten, Boiten, Kate Duffy, Signal got Elon Musk, Alan Woodword, Signal Woodword

WhatsApp delays enforcement of privacy terms by 3 months, following backlash

WhatsApp said on Friday that it won’t enforce the planned update to its data-sharing policy until May 15, weeks after news about the new terms created confusion among its users, exposed the Facebook-app to a potential lawsuit, triggered a nationwide investigation, and drove tens of millions of its loyal fans to explore alternative messaging apps. “We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on Fe...
Tags: Social, Facebook, Apps, India, Tech, Whatsapp, Telegram, Signal, Facebook WhatsApp, Brian Acton

WhatsApp is delaying a new policy change after critics claimed the update would have turned over user data to Facebook

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in Washington DC on Oct. 23, 2019. Facebook owns WhatsApp. Andrew Harnik/AP WhatsApp is delaying by three months the rollout of a new policy that some critics said would turn over user data to Facebook. Users originally were set to opt in or out of the policy change on February 8 and will now not have to until May 15. WhatsApp said the delay is due to "confusion" and "misinformation" surrounding the new policy, which it said will "not expand our ability to shar...
Tags: Apple, Google, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, News, Trends, Whatsapp, Washington Dc, Data Privacy, Signal, Messaging Apps, Andrew Harnik, Tech Insider, Facebook Users, Katie Canales, Signal Tesla CEO Elon Musk

Signal appears to be down for some users after the messaging app saw a record spike in downloads

Thomas Trutschel/Getty Images The secure messaging app Signal was experiencing issues Friday, some users reported online.  Down Detector showed over 2,000 reports from users experiencing issues around 11:40 a.m. ET. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Signal appears to be down for some users on Friday morning.Down Detector showed over 2,000 reports from users who are experiencing issues on the encrypted messaging platform around 11:40 a.m. ET. Several Insider staff members...
Tags: Apple, Google, Facebook, Apps, News, Trends, Whatsapp, Signal, Outage, Acton, Tech Insider, Brian Acton, Thomas Trutschel Getty, Signal Foundation, Katie Canales, Signal and Telegram Tesla CEO Elon Musk

10 things in tech you need to know today

Armed military in the Capitol. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Thursday. Sign up here to get this email in your inbox every morning.Have an Amazon Alexa device? Listen to this update by searching "Business Insider" in your flash briefing settings.Facebook tracked a rise in violent rhetoric. Signals Facebook flagged ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration included digital flyers promoting future protest, some of them featuring...
Tags: Google, Facebook, US, Trends, Walmart, Joe Biden, Intel, Nancy Pelosi, Fintech, Signal, Vmware, Fred Wilson, Trump, Capitol, Pat Gelsinger, Amazon Alexa

Signal's Brian Acton Talks About Exploding Growth, Monetization and WhatsApp Data-Sharing Outrage

Brian Acton is crossing paths again with Facebook. From a report: Over more than a decade of building and operating WhatsApp, the company's co-founder first competed against and then sold his instant messaging app to the social juggernaut. Only a few years ago he parted ways with the company that made him a billionaire in a bitter split over messaging and privacy. Now Acton says the ongoing outrage over what Facebook has done to the messaging service he helped build is driving people to his late...
Tags: Facebook, Tech, Signal, Acton, Brian Acton, Facebook From, Signal Acton

WhatsApp Clarifies It's Not Giving All Your Data To Facebook

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: WhatsApp has published a new FAQ page to its website outlining its stances on user privacy in response to widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update. The core issue relates to WhatsApp's data-sharing procedures with Facebook, with many users concerned an updated privacy policy going into effect on February 8th will mandate sharing of sensitive profile information with WhatsApp's parent company. That isn't true -- the update has ...
Tags: Facebook, Instagram, Tech, Eu, Signal, Facebook It, Facebook We, Bosworth, Cathcart, Andrew Boz Bosworth, Adam Mosseri, Will Cathcart, Facebook AR VR

Signal downloads skyrocketed 4,200% after WhatsApp announced it would force users to share personal data with Facebook. It's top of both Google and Apple's app stores.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, which owns WhatsApp. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas WhatsApp informed users Wednesday that they would have to start sharing some personal data with its parent company, Facebook, starting February 8. Data indicates this helped drive a huge spike in downloads on the rival encrypted messaging app Signal, which on Wednesday topped Google and Apple's app stores. Signal saw 7.5 million downloads last week, a 4,200% increase on the previous week. Telegram, a similar app, sa...
Tags: Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, UK, Privacy, India, US, Trends, European Union, Whatsapp, Edward Snowden, Fox News, Biden

Signal is now top of both Google and Apple's app stores. Downloads skyrocketed 4,200% after WhatsApp announced it would force users to share personal data with Facebook.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, which owns WhatsApp. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas WhatsApp informed users Wednesday that they would have to start sharing some personal data with its parent company, Facebook, starting February 8. Data indicates this helped drive a huge spike in downloads on the rival encrypted messaging app Signal, which on Wednesday topped Google and Apple's app stores. Signal saw 7.5 million downloads last week, a 4,200% increase on the previous week. Telegram, a similar app, sa...
Tags: Apple, Google, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, UK, Privacy, India, US, Trends, European Union, Whatsapp, Edward Snowden, Fox News, Biden, Telegram

Signal won't replace WhatsApp, the cofounder of both encrypted messaging apps says. Instead, people will use the 2 services for different conversations.

Signal founder Brian Acton (left) and Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook owns WhatsApp. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for WIRED, Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Encrypting messaging service Signal will not replace WhatsApp, the co-founder of both apps has predicted. Downloads of Signal have skyrocketed since rival WhatsApp announced it would make users share some personal data with parent company Facebook. Brian Acton, executive chairman of the Signal Foundation,...
Tags: Google, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, UK, Privacy, Trends, European Union, Whatsapp, Signal, Moxie Marlinspike, Encrypted Messaging, Acton, Sensor Tower, Tech Insider, Facebook Users, Brian Acton

Signal’s Brian Acton talks about exploding growth, monetization and WhatsApp data-sharing outrage

Brian Acton is crossing paths again with Facebook. Over more than a decade of building and operating WhatsApp, the company’s co-founder first competed against and then sold his instant messaging app to the social juggernaut. Only a few years ago he parted ways with the company that made him a billionaire in a bitter split over messaging and privacy. Now Acton says the ongoing outrage over what Facebook has done to the messaging service he helped build is driving people to his latest project — Si...
Tags: Google Play Store, Social, Facebook, Apps, Tech, Whatsapp, Mozilla, App Store, Telegram, Signal, App Annie, Don, Acton, Wikimedia Foundation, US Capitol, Facebook Users

Signal or WhatsApp? Here's how the messaging apps differ and how to decide which one to use.

WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton helped start the Signal Foundation. REUTERS/Mike Blake Signal saw a 4200% increase in user downloads this week as WhatsApp users considered leaving the platform. Both Signal and WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms that allow users to communicate over Wi-Fi or cell data.  But the two apps vary in the amount of user data they collect, ownership, and ease of use.  While Signal offers users more privacy, Facebook-owned WhatsApp has customizable...
Tags: Google, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Technology, News, Privacy, Congress, Trends, Intel, Whatsapp, Larry Ellison, Edward Snowden, Telegraph, Johns Hopkins, Signal, Jan Koum

Signal's downloads skyrocketed 4200% after WhatsApp announced it would force users to share personal data with Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, which owns Whatsapp. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas WhatsApp informed users Wednesday they would have to start sharing some personal data with Facebook, its parent company, from February 8. Data shows this led to a huge spike in downloads on rival encrypted messaging apps Signal and Telegram. Signal saw 7.5 million downloads last week, a 4200% increase on the previous week. Telegram saw 9 million downloads, a 91% increase. India was the biggest source of downloads fo...
Tags: Google, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, UK, Privacy, India, US, Trends, Eu, Data, Whatsapp, Edward Snowden, Biden, Telegram, Signal

Following riots, alternative social apps and private messengers top the app stores

Alternative social media apps including MeWe, CloutHub and other privacy-focused rivals to big tech, are topping the app stores following Trump’s ban from mainstream social platforms like Facebook and Twitter and the more recent removal of conservative social app Parler from both the App Store and Google Play. In the days since the Parler ban, “free speech”-favoring social networks are seeing notable numbers of new downloads at a quick pace, data shows. Next-generation social network MeWe, found...
Tags: Apple, Google, Social, Facebook, Apps, Tech, Fbi, Signal, Trump, Georgetown, U S Capitol, Facebook and Twitter, U S App Store, Apple Google Amazon, Amazon AWS, Apptopia

Elon Musk Urges Followers to Drop Facebook for Signal

What's the world's richest man up to? Digital Trends reports: Tech CEO Elon Musk has urged his almost 42 million Twitter followers to use secure messaging app Signal instead of Facebook products. In a series of tweets, Musk shared a meme referencing Facebook's role in the spread of misinformation leading to the attack on Congress this week and suggested people should use the Signal app. The tweets seem to have been prompted by a recent change to Facebook's privacy policy. As reported by The H...
Tags: Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Spacex, Elon Musk, Congress, Tech, Tesla, Signal, Musk, Digital Trends, Cambridge Analytica

Encrypted Messaging App Signal Sees Surge in Popularity Following WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update

Encrypted messaging app Signal faced big delays in verifying the phone numbers of new accounts on Thursday because of a sudden surge in people trying to join the platform. In messages posted from its official Twitter account, the non-profit Signal Foundation said verification codes were delayed across several cellular networks, and that it was working through the backlog as quickly as it could. Verification codes are currently delayed across several providers because so many new people are tr...
Tags: Apple, Facebook, Elon Musk, Tesla, Edward Snowden, App Store, Signal, Musk, Elon, Acton, Facebook Facebook, U S Capitol, Brian Acton, Signal Foundation, Verge Musk, Use Signal Elon Musk

Elon Musk dunks on Facebook and recommends Signal in wake of U.S. Capitol insurrection attempt

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire set to likely soon become the world’s richest man, and one of the most influential voices in the world of tech entrepreneurship, continued his recent trend of criticizing Facebook with a Twitter post late Wednesday night, following the attempted insurrection by pro-Trump rioters at the U.S. Capitol building. Musk shared a meme suggesting the founding of Facebook ultimately led to the day’s disastrous and shameful events. This is called the domino effect pic....
Tags: Social, TC, Facebook, Twitter, Spacex, Elon Musk, Technology, Social Media, Tech, Tesla, Whatsapp, Encryption, Software, Hyperloop, Signal, Musk

Signal Says Cellebrite Cannot Break Its Encryption

Signal, in a blog post: Yesterday, the BBC ran a story with the factually untrue headline, "Cellebrite claimed to have cracked chat app's encryption." This is false. Not only can Cellebrite not break Signal encryption, but Cellebrite never even claimed to be able to. Since we weren't actually given the opportunity to comment in that story, we're posting this to help to clarify things for anyone who may have seen the headline. Last week, Cellebrite posted a pretty embarrassing (for them) technica...
Tags: Tech, Bbc, Signal, Cellebrite, Cellebrite Physical Analyzer Cellebrite

Israeli Spy Tech Firm Says It Can Break Into Signal App

Last Thursday, Israeli phone-hacking firm Cellebrite said in a blog post that it can now break into Signal, an encrypted app considered safe from external snooping. Haaretz reports: Cellebrite's flagship product is the UFED (Universal Forensic Extraction Device), a system that allows authorities to unlock and access the data of any phone in their possession. Another product it offers is the Physical Analyzer, which helps organize and process data lifted from the phone. Last Thursday, the company...
Tags: Tech, Signal, Haaretz, Cellebrite, Signal Technology Foundation, Signal Signal, Decrypting Signal

Salesforce was supposed to become a diversity role model. Here's why its Office of Equality has struggled to move the needle.

(L to R) Tony Prophet, Salesforce chief equality and recruiting officer and Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO and cofounder Steve Jennings/Getty Images, Kimberly White/Getty Images Salesforce is known as a leader on social change, exemplified by hiring Tony Prophet as its first ever chief equality office in 2016. There's no clear roadmap for businesses to follow when changing diversity and progress is often slow, but in four years, Salesforce's diversity numbers have barely budged.  Business In...
Tags: Google, Enterprise, Microsoft, US, America, San Francisco, Trends, Indiana, Equality, Salesforce, Teaser, Prophet, Mila Kunis, Signal, Black, Janelle Monae

Security Holes Opened Back Door To TCL Android Smart TVs

chicksdaddy shares a report from The Security Ledger: Millions of Android smart television sets from the Chinese vendor TCL Technology Group Corporation contained gaping software security holes that researchers say could have allowed remote attackers to take control of the devices, steal data or even control cameras and microphones to surveil the set's owners. The security holes appear to have been patched by the manufacturer in early November. However the manner in which the holes were closed i...
Tags: China, Tech, Signal, Tcl, John Jackson, TCL Technology Group Corporation

How to see a log of old notifications on an Android by enabling a feature on your device

You can access erased or old notifications through your Android's Notification Log. Morsa Images/Getty Images You can see old notifications on an Android that you've previously cleared via the device's Notification Log.  You can only access your Notification Log after you activate it through your Android device's Developer Mode.   To enable Developer Mode with just a few repeated taps, find the "Software Information" or "Build Number" options in your Android's Settings app.  Visit Busi...
Tags: Android, Facebook, Trends, Smartphone, Settings, Notifications, Signal, Tech Insider, Developer Mode, Android 10, Product Card, BI-freelancer, Tech Reference, Software & Apps (Reference, Tech How To, Newsroom Affiliate How To

WhatsApp now lets you post ephemeral messages that disappear after 7 days

Facebook recently announced that WhatsApp passed the whopping milestone of 100 billion messages sent per day, but not everyone wants those chats to stick around forever. Now, Facebook’s wildly popular messaging app with 2 billion users is adding a feature to give people more control on how their words and pictures live within the app. From today, messages — including photos and videos — can now be marked to disappear after 7 days. Disappearing messages are being rolled out globally across ...
Tags: Social, TC, Facebook, Apps, Instagram, Tech, Whatsapp, Signal, Ephemeral Messaging, Ephemerality

WhatsApp now lets you post ephemeral messages, which disappear after 7 days

Facebook recently announced that WhatsApp passed the whopping milestone of 100 billion messages sent per day, but not everyone wants those chats to stick around forever. Now, Facebook’s wildly popular messaging app with 2 billion users is adding a feature to give people more control on how their words and pictures live within the app. From today, messages — including photos and videos — can now be marked to disappear after 7 days. The feature is being rolled out globally across Android and...
Tags: Social, TC, Facebook, Apps, Tech, Whatsapp, Signal, Ephemeral Messaging, Ephemerality

Amazon Web Services reports $11.6 billion third-quarter revenue, up 29% year over year

Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy. Associated Press Amazon Web Services reported $11.6 billion in revenue for the third quarter, up about 29% from the same quarter last year. Are you an Amazon Web Services employee? Contact this reporter via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-425-344-8242) or email ([email protected]). Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Amazon reported $11.6 billion in quarterly revenue for the company's market-leading Amazon Web Services c...
Tags: Google, Amazon, Enterprise, Microsoft, Cloud Computing, Office, Trends, Earnings, Aws, Signal, Amazon Web Services, Enterprise Software, Nordic, Andy Jassy, Tech Insider, Ashley Stewart

Alphabet shows promising signs of recovery as it reveals its Q3 earnings

Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks on stage during the annual Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, in 2018. REUTERS/ Stephen Lam Alphabet reported its Q3 earnings on Thursday, revealing promising signs of recovery. Are you an Alphabet employee? Contact this reporter via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-628-228-1836) or email ([email protected]). Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Google parent Alphabet has reported its third-quarter ...
Tags: Google, Trends, Bloomberg, Earnings, Sundar Pichai, Signal, Alphabet, GAAP, Mountain View California, Tech Insider, Hugh Langley, REUTERS Stephen Lam Alphabet

Alphabet's Q3 revenue jumps 14% as the company bounces back from a historic slump

Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks on stage during the annual Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, in 2018. REUTERS/ Stephen Lam Alphabet reported its Q3 earnings on Thursday, revealing a mammoth 14% jump in revenue. The company beat Wall Street estimates, bringing in $38.01 billion in revenue (minus traffic acquisition costs). "This quarter, our performance was consistent with the broader online environment," said CEO Sundar Pichai on a call with investors. Are you ...
Tags: Google, Google Play, Trends, Bloomberg, Earnings, Justice Department, Sundar Pichai, Signal, Alphabet, Pichai, GAAP, Mountain View California, Tech Insider, Waymo, Hugh Langley, REUTERS Stephen Lam Alphabet

How to forward a message on the Signal secure-messaging app

It's easy to forward a message on the Signal mobile app for Android or iPhone. Westend61/Getty Images You can forward messages on Signal, the secure-messaging app, just like you can on iMessage or Facebook Messenger. Signal only lets you forward messages on the mobile app — you can't forward messages through Signal's desktop website. Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories. There used to be only a few ways to send messages to your friends, but now, there are hu...
Tags: Iphone, Android, Trends, End-to-end Encryption, Signal, Messaging Apps, Tech Insider, Product Card, BI-freelancer, Tech Reference, Software & Apps (Reference, Tech How To, Newsroom Affiliate How To, Melanie Weir, Smartphones (Reference, Facebook Messenger Signal

How to change the font size in Signal for your display and messages on a computer or mobile device

You can change your font size on Signal on a computer or mobile device. 10'000 Hours/Getty Images Signal, an encrypted messaging service, lets you change the font size of the app's display and messages. You can change your font size in Signal on the platform's desktop, Android, and iPhone apps. Adjusting the font size in the Signal app can reduce eye strain and is more user-friendly and accessible visually impaired persons.  Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stor...
Tags: Iphone, Android, Trends, Computers, Signal, Messaging Apps, Encrypted Messaging, CTRL, Digital Security, Tech Insider, BI-freelancer, Tech Reference, Laptops & Tablets (Reference, Software & Apps (Reference, Tech How To, Smartphones (Reference

Microsoft is extending its remote-work policy to July 2021 'at the earliest'

Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Stephen Brashear Microsoft just extended remote work to July 6, 2021 at the earliest in the US. ZDNet first reported the story.  Microsoft closed offices in March to slow the spread of COVID-19, and had originally said employees would remain at home until October. Google, Facebook, and Amazon also announced they wouldn't require employees in the office until summer 2021. Are you a Microsoft employee? Contact this reporter via the encrypted mes...
Tags: Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, News, Microsoft, Satya Nadella, US, Trends, Strategy, Future Of Work, Tech, Remote Work, Employees, Tim Cook, Signal