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For a few years, WhatsApp "e2ee" messages were stored in plain text on your Google drive backup (that's how it worked on Android. Don't know about apple). This
by keyme 4y ago
For a few years, WhatsApp "e2ee" messages were stored in plain text on your Google drive backup (that's how it worked on Android. Don't know about apple). This was even stated in their FAQ.
This was as part of a FB/GOOG deal where the storage for WhatsApp backups did not count for your Google drive quota.
Recently the backups did finally become encrypted as well. With a key known to the WhatsApp app. (On Android, stored in a file called "key" in the apps local storage)
However, when you restore the backup, where does the key come from? From the WhatsApp servers, obviously.
So still, FB and GOOG together still have full access to your daily backed up messages.
And the free storage deal is still there, of course.
Please do correct me if I'm wrong and you know better.
- daqhris 4y agoI understand your point. Their track record regarding handling users data is bad, so egregious that in Europe laws are being crafted to force them to keep users' interests at heart. Let me tell you about another third party that is not mentioned here. The telecom operator. Once, in 2019, I was reinstalling WhatsApp on my smartphone. I checked the Internet traffic records (outbound) with curiosity. This led me to finding out that my phone was reaching out to *whatsapp.com (Meta's servers) and Belgacom (Belgium's telephony provider). So, my phone's data was being routed through the parent company's devices and some other third party services like a national telecom company. I don't if it's still the case nowadays, but since that day, I have more worries about their encryption and data relay practices.