WhatsApp is set to enable cross-platform communication, allowing its two billion-plus users to interact with third-party messaging services like iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, and Signal by March.
The move comes after WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, was designated a “digital gatekeeper” under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This law mandates Meta to allow its users on WhatsApp to exchange messages, images, voice messages, videos, and files with third-party services.
WhatsApp’s engineering director Dick Brouwer pointed out the risks of this big change. “There’s real tension between offering an easy way to offer this interoperability to third parties whilst at the same time preserving the WhatsApp privacy, security, and integrity bar,” he told Wired on Tuesday.
Just like Apple’s upcoming iOS 17.4 update — which will allow users to “sideload” apps and access alternative app stores — offering greater flexibility and choice to users also opens up new vectors for potential security threats, such as malware and scams.
Brouwer emphasized the importance of allowing users to choose whether to receive messages from third-party apps. “I can choose whether or not I want to participate in being open to exchanging messages with third parties. This is important, because it could be a big source of spam and scams,” he explained.
How WhatsApp Interoperability Will Work
Brouwer revealed that WhatsApp would initially only support direct messages between individuals, excluding group chats and calls, which are planned for inclusion in future updates. Messages from other apps will appear in a “third-party chats” section on WhatsApp — at the top of users’ inboxes.
Allowing interoperability requires intricate technical adjustments to ensure that messages can be exchanged securely and efficiently between WhatsApp and other messaging services. Services looking to integrate with WhatsApp must also enter into an agreement with Meta.
Brouwer said, ideally, these services would also adopt the Signal Protocol, which WhatsApp uses, for encryption across platforms and to establish a secure connection for transmitting messages.
Feedback, Security, and Privacy Concerns
Feedback from other messaging services has been mixed, Wired revealed. For example, Matrix — the company behind the messaging app “Element” — has engaged with WhatsApp in an “experimental” manner on interoperability. However, a spokesperson for the Swiss messaging app “Threema” said Meta’s proposed security and privacy standards do not meet its own.
Interoperability raises significant concerns around security and privacy. Threat actors will be on the prowl for potential security gaps that they can exploit to hack accounts. To protect your accounts, we recommend:
- Using one of our top VPNs to encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address.
- Securing your accounts with strong passwords and activating multi-factor authentication (MFA) to secure your accounts against unauthorized access.
- Keeping your apps updated to protect against security exploits.
- Optimizing your app’s privacy settings.
- Staying alert to avoid spam and phishing, especially from unknown contacts.
- Opting for apps with end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for sensitive communications.
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