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Hackers Bypass Signal, Telegram And WhatsApp Encryption To Read Messages
AppWizard
November 26, 2025

Hackers Bypass Signal, Telegram And WhatsApp Encryption To Read Messages

CISA has issued a warning about spyware targeting users of instant messaging applications, particularly highlighting the Sturnus trojan, which poses significant risks to Android smartphone users. Sturnus, identified as a banking trojan, can bypass encrypted messaging by capturing messages after they are decrypted on the smartphone screen, rather than cracking the encryption itself. Security expert Aditya Sood noted that Sturnus uses a combination of plaintext, RSA, and AES-encrypted communication, complicating detection efforts. The trojan can read everything displayed on the smartphone screen in real time, including sensitive messages and contacts. CISA also identified tactics used by cyber threat actors, such as phishing, zero-click exploits, and impersonation to gain unauthorized access to messaging apps. Users are advised to keep Google’s Play Protect activated, avoid unauthorized app stores, and be cautious with accessibility permissions to protect against these threats.
Telegram and WhatsApp* are blocked by authorities in southern Russia.
AppWizard
October 23, 2025

Telegram and WhatsApp* are blocked by authorities in southern Russia.

Users of WhatsApp and Telegram in southern Russia are facing significant disruptions due to government-imposed restrictions aimed at combating criminal activities associated with these messaging platforms. The state communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, confirmed partial restrictions on October 22, citing misuse of the platforms for extortion and illegal recruitment. Outages began on October 20, primarily affecting southern regions like Krasnodar Krai and Volgograd, and complaints spread to 34 regions by October 21 and 22. Data from DownDetector showed a peak in complaints about Telegram outages on October 22, particularly in Volgograd, while WhatsApp issues began early that day and peaked around noon. Historically, access to Telegram has faced challenges in Dagestan, where it was effectively blocked following law enforcement recommendations, a situation acknowledged by regional officials only months later.
Elon Musk Takes A Dig At Signal, The Messenger’s President Hits Back
AppWizard
October 21, 2025

Elon Musk Takes A Dig At Signal, The Messenger’s President Hits Back

Several major platforms, including Snapchat, Signal Messenger, and Duolingo, experienced an unexpected outage that frustrated users. Elon Musk expressed diminished trust in Signal, prompting a defense from Signal's President, Meredith Whittaker, who highlighted the platform's reputation for privacy and security. Signal's centralized system does not compromise encrypted communications, as it does not retain keys to the encrypted data. Musk is promoting X Chat as a secure alternative in the messaging landscape, with plans to enhance user confidence through a simplified verification process. Signal has faced criticism over operational issues, and Musk's comments suggest he aims to position X Chat as a competitor to Signal and other messaging platforms.
Zoho’s Arattai messaging app needs to adopt THIS key WhatsApp security feature: Details inside
AppWizard
October 7, 2025

Zoho’s Arattai messaging app needs to adopt THIS key WhatsApp security feature: Details inside

Arratai, an instant messaging app developed by Zoho, is rapidly gaining popularity as a Made in India alternative to WhatsApp, reaching the top of the social networking category on app stores. However, it lacks end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for text messaging, which could deter users concerned about message security. While E2EE is available for video and voice calls, the absence for text messaging raises privacy concerns. Zoho's co-founder Sridhar Vembu has reassured users about data privacy and has reported a significant increase in daily sign-ups from 3,000 to 350,000 in just three days. The app's branding as a spyware-free, made-in-India messaging platform is resonating with users, especially following endorsements from public figures and tech advocates. Despite its growth, Arratai is facing infrastructure challenges, including delayed one-time passwords (OTPs) and slower contact synchronization, which Zoho is working to address.
Arattai app: All about the new made in India Arattai app and why many people are ditching WhatsApp to join it | - The Times of India
AppWizard
October 1, 2025

Arattai app: All about the new made in India Arattai app and why many people are ditching WhatsApp to join it | – The Times of India

Arattai, a messaging app developed by Zoho and launched in January 2021, is designed for Indian users as an alternative to WhatsApp. The app has seen a dramatic increase in daily sign-ups, rising from approximately 3,000 to 350,000 in three days, and has surpassed 1 million users, though it remains significantly smaller than WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users in India. Arattai offers features such as text and voice messaging, audio and video calls, file sharing, group chats, and cross-device access. Despite its growth, it lacks end-to-end encryption for messages, a key feature that may affect user adoption. Zoho Corporation, founded in 1996, is headquartered in Chennai and has a wide range of business applications serving over 130 million users globally. The app has received endorsements from government officials, contributing to its rising visibility and appeal as a homegrown technology.
Arattai's Unexpected Surge: Road Ahead for Zoho's Messaging App, Hard Lessons From Past
AppWizard
October 1, 2025

Arattai’s Unexpected Surge: Road Ahead for Zoho’s Messaging App, Hard Lessons From Past

Zoho's instant messaging application, 'Arattai,' has gained significant attention as a potential alternative to WhatsApp, particularly after endorsement from Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Daily sign-ups increased from 3,000 to 350,000 within 72 hours, and Arattai now has over 1 million monthly active users. Most new users are from India, prompting Zoho to enhance its infrastructure to meet demand, although some users have faced issues like OTP delays. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu indicated plans for a significant launch in November and discussions for messaging protocol standardization. Arattai evolved from Zoho Chat and aims to reflect India's unique needs. Challenges remain, as local platforms like Koo and Hike Messenger struggled to maintain user bases. Industry experts note that being an Indian product alone may not be enough to compete with established platforms. Arattai is focusing on user feedback, infrastructure, and plans to implement end-to-end encryption while avoiding advertising in its monetization strategy.
‘We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in…,’ says Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas reacts
AppWizard
September 30, 2025

‘We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in…,’ says Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas reacts

Arratai, an instant messaging app developed by Zoho, has quickly become the top app in the social networking category on app stores, experiencing a surge in traffic by 100 times in three days. Daily sign-ups rose from 3,000 to 350,000 in this period. Zoho is enhancing its infrastructure to handle the influx of users and is addressing technical challenges caused by this rapid growth. Initially launched in 2021 as an experimental project, Arattai has gained popularity due to its focus on data privacy and being a "spyware-free, made-in-India" platform. The app offers features such as one-to-one and group chats, voice and video calls, and is compatible with multiple devices. While it currently provides end-to-end encryption for calls, chat encryption is still in development. Zoho is working to resolve issues like delayed OTPs and slower contact synchronization as the app's user base expands.
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