Category: Technology

WhatsApp adds end-to-end encryption

whatsappIt’s nice to finally be able to post a little good news! It seems that WhatsApp messaging platform have added TextSecure end-to-end encryption to their android app, and their iPhone offering should follow suit shortly.

The beauty of the TextSecure solution is that it uses forward secrecy, which uses a fresh cryptographic key for each and every message.

I live in hope that facebook will also extend this technology to their facebook messenger and that other IM applications pick up on this too.
Continue reading WhatsApp adds end-to-end encryption

The evolving web

The web was designed as a distributed network of computer servers, in this ‘Web 1.0’ a series of computer protocols were used to allow open exchange of data between people all over the world.

This basic system still exists today, but over time with the advent of standard web browsers the web split into ‘consumers’ and ‘producers’.

Consumers were the people who only interacted with the web through their web browsers, reading content produced and stored on the servers of the producers. Continue reading The evolving web

Estonian president ‘Social Media worse than the Stasi’

big brotheror words to that effect…

Okay, he may not have said that Social Media is worse than the Stasi, but he did make some very valid remarks.

Firstly, he points out that no government collects as much data about you as social networks.

Secondly, he makes it clear that there is no such thing as a free lunch, or in this case a free mobile app – with the exception of a few apps written by a 14 year old in his bedroom, you pay for all apps – whether it is with cash, your data, or both varies.

Quote, and link to full article below. Continue reading Estonian president ‘Social Media worse than the Stasi’

Telefonica ‘big data’ division selling your location

Telefonica, the owner of UK mobile operator O2, is starting to sell your mobile information to anyone who wants it. Dynamic Insights, the big data flogging division of Telefonica has just announced their first product ‘Smart Steps.’

The first product, ‘Smart Steps’, will use fully anonymised and aggregated mobile network data to enable companies and public sector organisations to measure, compare, and understand what factors influence the number of people visiting a location at any time.

Basically, they plan to sell ‘where you’ve been’ information, initially this seems pretty anonymous – but if they add in where you came from, that will be another story.

Continue reading Telefonica ‘big data’ division selling your location