encrypted messaging Archives

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Controversial messaging app Telegram is profitable, says its founder. Here’s how it makes money.

Encrypted messaging service Telegram has achieved profitability after 11 years of operation, with revenue surpassing billion in 2024 and cash reserves of 0 million. CEO Pavel Durov attributed this success to advertising and premium subscriptions. The company introduced initiatives like a revenue-sharing model for content creators and a premium subscription tier priced at .99 per month. Telegram has reduced its billion debt and noted a significant turnaround from the previous year, when it reported a loss of million on revenues of million. Despite its financial success, the platform faces global scrutiny over misinformation and limited content moderation, with bans in several countries and a history of being prohibited in Russia from 2018 to 2020.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

Telegram founder says messaging app profitable for first time

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, announced that the platform achieved a net profit for the first time in 2024, with annual revenues exceeding one billion dollars. Telegram has over 950 million users and has shifted to a monetization model that includes paid subscriptions and advertisements since 2021, resulting in a tripling of premium service subscribers to 12 million. The company has cash reserves exceeding 0 million, excluding cryptocurrency assets. Durov faced legal issues in France related to content management but criticized the authorities' approach. Telegram is using artificial intelligence for content moderation to address misuse, while asserting that 99.999 percent of its users do not engage in criminal activities.

AppWizard

December 7, 2024

FBI warns users to encrypt text messages for cybersecurity. Here’s how to do it

The FBI has advised smartphone users to encrypt text messages, especially when communicating between Apple and Android devices, due to a cyber espionage campaign linked to hackers from the People's Republic of China. These hackers have targeted telecommunications infrastructure and stolen sensitive customer call records. Standard text messages between Apple and Android devices lack encryption, while messages between two devices of the same platform are secure. Users are encouraged to use secure messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, which provide end-to-end encryption. To use WhatsApp, users must download the app, accept terms, verify their phone number, and set up their profile. For Signal, users follow a similar process of downloading the app, verifying their phone number, creating a PIN, and setting up their profile. Both apps require Wi-Fi or cellular data for operation.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

Americans urged to use encrypted messaging apps after cyberattack: Officials

U.S. officials recommend citizens use encrypted messaging applications due to recent cyberattacks on major telecommunications companies, including AT&T and Verizon. Microsoft identified a hacking campaign called "Salt Typhoon" as a significant intelligence breach, which remains unresolved. The attacks are believed to be conducted by Chinese entities targeting American citizens, though Chinese officials have not commented on the allegations.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

FBI Warns Americans to Start Using Encrypted Messaging Apps

America's leading cybersecurity and law enforcement officials convened to address cyber threats, particularly following the Salt Typhoon intrusion attributed to Chinese government hackers, described by Senator Mark Warner as “the worst hack in our nation’s history.” The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI advised Americans to use encrypted messaging applications like Signal to protect against foreign infiltration. Encryption was emphasized as a vital defense, with officials noting that the hackers could not access encrypted communications, although they did gain access to metadata related to messages and phone calls. The Five Eyes alliance issued guidelines to fortify systems against the Salt Typhoon attack. Concerns remain about the implications of potential shifts in governance and the protection of civil liberties in an increasingly volatile political climate.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

US Warns Citizens to Use Encrypted Messaging Apps Amid Cyberattack on Telecom Giants

A significant cyber intrusion has targeted major US telecommunications firms, including AT&T and Verizon, linked to Chinese state-sponsored actors and identified by Microsoft as Salt Typhoon. The FBI and CISA have confirmed that the attack focused on leading telecom companies, infiltrating sensitive data such as phone metadata, live calls, and law enforcement surveillance systems. The breach is attributed to the Chinese government, aiming to gather intelligence on American political and governmental operations, but officials state it is not intended to interfere with the 2024 elections. Types of sensitive information stolen include call logs and metadata, intercepted live conversations, and access to law enforcement systems. In response, officials are encouraging the use of encrypted messaging applications like Signal, WhatsApp, and iMessage to protect personal communications. The breach raises concerns about the vulnerability of telecom systems governed by the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), which may not fully encrypt messages. Despite the damage caused by the Salt Typhoon operation, the breach highlights the risks associated with cyber espionage from state-sponsored groups, emphasizing the need for robust encryption to safeguard personal information.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid cyberattack

A significant cyberattack, dubbed Salt Typhoon, has targeted major U.S. telecommunications firms, including AT&T and Verizon, leading officials to recommend the use of encrypted messaging applications for secure communications. Chinese hackers reportedly infiltrated these companies to surveil customers, particularly focusing on call records and live phone calls, including those related to political figures. The FBI has not provided a timeline for when telecommunications systems will be free of unauthorized access and has decided not to notify individuals whose metadata was compromised. The breach has raised concerns about the security of compliance systems used by telecom companies. End-to-end encrypted applications like Signal and WhatsApp are advocated for, while the FBI's stance on encryption remains complex, having historically opposed full encryption that prevents law enforcement access. Senator Ron Wyden criticized the reliance on compliance systems, arguing they leave sensitive information vulnerable to breaches.

AppWizard

November 14, 2024

NatWest blocks bevy of messenger apps on staff devices

NatWest Group has formally banned a range of messaging applications, including WhatsApp, Meta's Messenger, Skype, Telegram, Signal, Viber, Snapchat, Discord, WeChat, and Line, to enhance regulatory compliance and communication oversight. This ban, effective from November 6, applies only to company-issued devices and is aimed at protecting the bank and its stakeholders from regulatory complications. The prohibited apps are seen as lacking proper record recovery options, which could hinder compliance documentation. Employees are discouraged from using personal devices for business communication on these platforms. The decision comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of banks' recordkeeping practices, highlighted by significant fines imposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority is also looking into financial institutions' usage of encrypted messaging apps. Approved communication channels at NatWest include Microsoft Teams, Viva Engage, Zoom, Outlook, Symphony Chat, and SMS, all of which allow for record retrieval.

AppWizard

November 13, 2024

NatWest blocks messaging apps for work communications

NatWest has blocked messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype on company devices in the UK to ensure employees use only approved channels for communications. This decision is due to concerns about the retrievability of messages on these platforms, particularly given WhatsApp's encryption and disappearing message features. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is considering an investigation into the use of messaging services in the banking sector. In the US, banks like HSBC and JPMorgan Chase have faced penalties for failing to comply with record-keeping regulations. In the UK, Ofgem fined Morgan Stanley £5.4 million for not retaining electronic trading communications that included WhatsApp discussions. NatWest's policy change reflects a trend in the financial sector towards stricter communication protocols.

AppWizard

November 13, 2024

NatWest has banned staff from using Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to communicate

NatWest has banned the use of instant messaging applications like WhatsApp, Skype, and Facebook Messenger for internal communications in order to enhance compliance with regulatory standards. The bank has made these applications inaccessible on company-issued devices, emphasizing the need for record-keeping in line with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) regulations. While restricting these platforms for internal use, NatWest still allows WhatsApp for customer service inquiries. This policy change follows a penalty against Morgan Stanley for violating communication recording rules by using WhatsApp for trading discussions. The COVID inquiry has also highlighted risks associated with messaging apps, including mass deletions of important communications.