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> "a Facebook user could send an encrypted message to someone who has only a WhatsApp account, for example. Currently, that isn’t possible because the apps are

> "a Facebook user could send an encrypted message to someone who has only a WhatsApp account, for example. Currently, that isn’t possible because the apps are separate." This freaks me out, as i have deliberately chosen to stay away from facebook since the early days! I somehow felt repelled by the idea of facebook back then, now its trying to hunt me down! Oops! I have been thinking of quitting Whatsapp since facebook acquired it, but continued using it since almost everyone i frequently communicate with does so on Whatsapp. Maybe it's time to quit whatsapp before this integration happens! Or am i just freaking out ? :D

SilasX 8y ago
I hate to sound pendantic but this part is wrong or very misleading too: >"a Facebook user could send an encrypted message to someone who has only a WhatsApp account, for example. Currently, that isn’t possible because the apps are separate." Nothing stops you from encrypting with your own scheme before sending the message to the other service, it’s just added inconvenience. More importantly it implies that you depend on the medium owner for the key management which (as others here are pointing out) defeats the point of encryption (in part) by allowing said medium to read the plaintexts. Edit: Am I wrong?
SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
It's an improvement for me as I'm desperately trying to get away from Facebook but all of my friends and family insist on using Messenger (I don't use the site itself anymore). I know WhatsApp is owned by them but one less Facebook app on my phone (by deleting Messenger Lite) can only be a good thing. I could even delete my FB account if they are truly interoperable.
- Max_Mustermann 8y ago
  You can try just using https://mbasic.facebook.com/messages/ https://mbasic.facebook.com/messages/ on your mobile browser. It's quite limited but it gets the job done. Let's hope they don't shut it down as well.
rchaud 8y ago
I don't think you're wrong. The point of this integration is to start connecting Whatsapp's giant database of phone numbers with Facebook Messenger/IG accounts. At this time, it's still possible to be anonymous on Whatsapp, but that ends once this project is completed. Been trying to get friends and family to switch to Signal since early 2017 with no luck.
- _wmd 8y ago
  You're only as anonymous as the contact records in all the phones you're communicating with, i.e. not at all. The only winning move is not to play https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/26/how-to-stop-your-phone-from-uploading-your-contacts-to-facebook.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/26/how-to-stop-your-phone-from-...
  - 14 8y ago
    This is a sour point for me. It bugs me that other people can reveal information about me and there is little I can do. I actually stopped entering contacts into my phone because of this. Or I put false names for ones I man need to label. I recognise my contacts by their phone number. I doubt my part is overly effective because others likely don't do this but it is my way of saying screw off. I hope one day legislation will regulate these companies and what they share about us. I thought Facebook promised it would not suck up the whatsapp data how can they integrate without all that data? Reminds me of a child. Was told no so going to just do it anyways and see if there is a punishment after. I hope some regulatory body sinks Facebook over this idea.
    - _wmd 8y ago
      It's almost entirely ineffective. Each phone book upload probably nets them something like ~100 contacts, multiply that by 1.74 billion and the war is entirely lost. A bit like how self-driving cars may shortly redefine the meaning of 'public space'.
      - rajeshmr 8y ago
addicted 8y ago
FB messenger never really took off outside the US because Whatsapp was dominant. Clearly FB wanted to not just have access to those users, but also integrate them into the wider FB ecosystem.
- kibibu 8y ago
  FB messenger is absolutely dominant in Australia.
- wodenokoto 8y ago
  Denmark begs to differ.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
WA 8y ago
Do you think they will just erase your data? More likely, it gets merged anyways.
wtmt 8y ago
Ideally, you should've deleted your WhatsApp account when Facebook bought it. But it's not too late to wean yourself off of it and get rid of your account (though you have given more information to Facebook through WhatsApp all this while). YMMV, but here are some suggestions. Turn off notifications and the message count badge completely. Then avoid opening the app. Do these for a few days until you realize that you're not missing much and are probably less stressed and happier than before. Get others to use Wire (I won't recommend Signal because it sucks and has a bad user experience even in 2019, and has only its protocol's fame going for it).
- avip 8y ago
  > WhatsApp account There's no such thing though.
  - wtmt 8y ago
    I don’t understand on what basis you made that comment and what you intended to convey. There certainly is a “WhatsApp account” and has been for several years. WhatsApp calls every number as an “account”. I deleted my account when WhatsApp was bought by Facebook. Here are the links to WhatsApp’s own FAQ to delete one’s account on iOS [1] and Android. [2] [1] https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/iphone/21325453/?category=5245246 https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/iphone/21325453/?category=524524... [2]: https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/android/21119703 https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/android/21119703

SilasX 8y ago

I hate to sound pendantic but this part is wrong or very misleading too: >"a Facebook user could send an encrypted message to someone who has only a WhatsApp account, for example. Currently, that isn’t possible because the apps are separate." Nothing stops you from encrypting with your own scheme before sending the message to the other service, it’s just added inconvenience. More importantly it implies that you depend on the medium owner for the key management which (as others here are pointing out) defeats the point of encryption (in part) by allowing said medium to read the plaintexts. Edit: Am I wrong?

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago

It's an improvement for me as I'm desperately trying to get away from Facebook but all of my friends and family insist on using Messenger (I don't use the site itself anymore). I know WhatsApp is owned by them but one less Facebook app on my phone (by deleting Messenger Lite) can only be a good thing. I could even delete my FB account if they are truly interoperable.

Max_Mustermann 8y ago
You can try just using https://mbasic.facebook.com/messages/ https://mbasic.facebook.com/messages/ on your mobile browser. It's quite limited but it gets the job done. Let's hope they don't shut it down as well.

rchaud 8y ago

I don't think you're wrong. The point of this integration is to start connecting Whatsapp's giant database of phone numbers with Facebook Messenger/IG accounts. At this time, it's still possible to be anonymous on Whatsapp, but that ends once this project is completed. Been trying to get friends and family to switch to Signal since early 2017 with no luck.

_wmd 8y ago
You're only as anonymous as the contact records in all the phones you're communicating with, i.e. not at all. The only winning move is not to play https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/26/how-to-stop-your-phone-from-uploading-your-contacts-to-facebook.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/26/how-to-stop-your-phone-from-...
- 14 8y ago
  This is a sour point for me. It bugs me that other people can reveal information about me and there is little I can do. I actually stopped entering contacts into my phone because of this. Or I put false names for ones I man need to label. I recognise my contacts by their phone number. I doubt my part is overly effective because others likely don't do this but it is my way of saying screw off. I hope one day legislation will regulate these companies and what they share about us. I thought Facebook promised it would not suck up the whatsapp data how can they integrate without all that data? Reminds me of a child. Was told no so going to just do it anyways and see if there is a punishment after. I hope some regulatory body sinks Facebook over this idea.
  - _wmd 8y ago
    It's almost entirely ineffective. Each phone book upload probably nets them something like ~100 contacts, multiply that by 1.74 billion and the war is entirely lost. A bit like how self-driving cars may shortly redefine the meaning of 'public space'.
    - rajeshmr 8y ago

addicted 8y ago

FB messenger never really took off outside the US because Whatsapp was dominant. Clearly FB wanted to not just have access to those users, but also integrate them into the wider FB ecosystem.

kibibu 8y ago
FB messenger is absolutely dominant in Australia.
wodenokoto 8y ago
Denmark begs to differ.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

WA 8y ago

Do you think they will just erase your data? More likely, it gets merged anyways.

wtmt 8y ago

Ideally, you should've deleted your WhatsApp account when Facebook bought it. But it's not too late to wean yourself off of it and get rid of your account (though you have given more information to Facebook through WhatsApp all this while). YMMV, but here are some suggestions. Turn off notifications and the message count badge completely. Then avoid opening the app. Do these for a few days until you realize that you're not missing much and are probably less stressed and happier than before. Get others to use Wire (I won't recommend Signal because it sucks and has a bad user experience even in 2019, and has only its protocol's fame going for it).

avip 8y ago
> WhatsApp account There's no such thing though.
- wtmt 8y ago
  I don’t understand on what basis you made that comment and what you intended to convey. There certainly is a “WhatsApp account” and has been for several years. WhatsApp calls every number as an “account”. I deleted my account when WhatsApp was bought by Facebook. Here are the links to WhatsApp’s own FAQ to delete one’s account on iOS [1] and Android. [2] [1] https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/iphone/21325453/?category=5245246 https://faq.whatsapp.com/en/iphone/21325453/?category=524524... [2]: https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/android/21119703 https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/android/21119703