Latest WhatsApp feature will make you want to THROW your phone across the room

<h3 style="text-align: justify;"> FACEBOOK-OWNED WhatsApp is set to roll-out a new feature that will cause headaches for messenger users across the globe.</h3> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE_klabqaL2JGWZKDMlKnoskyBZajz6dMQQB1HZbyOPj3b6AVVyo5tNdPmhLNaXEz8o9hrS1jvjVq_ilj12tyE80Tf4KcUqEcacMw5g3sem0bbfQPog7Ysta1rv69GJzLdDrTMRzrY_Hb/s1600/Latest+WhatsApp+feature+will+make+you+want+to+THROW+your+phone+across+the+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Latest WhatsApp feature will make you want to THROW your phone across the room" border="0" height="640" src="" title="Latest WhatsApp feature will make you want to THROW your phone across the room" width="597" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp users could be in store for an onslaught of notifications, thanks to today's update </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp users could be in store for an onslaught of notifications.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The hugely-successful cross-platform messenger has announced that it is increasing the maximum number of people in one group conversation from 100 to 256 people.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This means some 256 of your friends can jump into one New Group. Just imagine those notifications beeping, ringing and pinging day and night.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp is rolling out the update from today, with some users already able to create the super-sized group chats.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHRpbpYgVluzNaSjnody1eKWA5dyBMxE5M6ZTBftoYvWV91R8q45KrZtFEjGvXcVOBtnrkFUAphTCoB8RUNiC7_aQmcxP3E3RDaskknrHDEOHVluzo_tuO7ely8ed7rtWaF-SWUwaUcGw/s1600/Latest+WhatsApp+feature+will+make+you+want+to+THROW+your+phone+across+the+room+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Latest WhatsApp feature will make you want to THROW your phone across the room" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHRpbpYgVluzNaSjnody1eKWA5dyBMxE5M6ZTBftoYvWV91R8q45KrZtFEjGvXcVOBtnrkFUAphTCoB8RUNiC7_aQmcxP3E3RDaskknrHDEOHVluzo_tuO7ely8ed7rtWaF-SWUwaUcGw/s640/Latest+WhatsApp+feature+will+make+you+want+to+THROW+your+phone+across+the+room+2.jpg" title="Latest WhatsApp feature will make you want to THROW your phone across the room" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group Chats can now hold a staggering 256 different people</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When your smartphone app is updated, WhatsApp will notify you that you can now add up to 256 people to your next text conversation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Apple and Android users will be able to benefit from the latest update but Windows and Blackberry aren't able to take part in the larger conversations just yet.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The move to expand group conversations could be the first step in WhatsApp's new business plan, which aims to connect companies with their customers through the popular chat app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a recent announcement, WhatsApp said it will charge multi-national companies to conduct customer service chats and calls via WhatsApp.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="378" id="flashObj" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=4703621727001&playerID=2538956444001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89XEkLQHlpWPz_5DAA2-uG70&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=4703621727001&playerID=2538956444001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89XEkLQHlpWPz_5DAA2-uG70&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="378" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For example, an airline could use the app to contact customers about a flight cancellation or upcoming delays.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp says despite the changes, its goal remains to avoid spam and unwanted advertising within the hugely-successful app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However – it will undoubtedly be easier for companies to push out notifications and updates to 256 rather than 100 customers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/whatsapp-is-now-completely-free-but.html">previously charged a yearly 69p subscription</a> to keep the messenger ad-free.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The news comes after <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/whatsapp-just-shared-some-big-news.html">Facebook confirmed that WhatsApp now has a billion users across the globe</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/whatsapp-just-shared-some-big-news.html">This monumental figure makes the cross-platform app the world's most popular messenger –</a> with more than 42 billion messages and 250 million videos being sent every day of the week.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Announcing the news on his Facebook page, boss Mark Zuckerberg said: "One billion people now use WhatsApp.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Congrats to Jan, Brian and everyone who helped reach this milestone!"</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Facebook paid a whopping $19billion, some £11.5 million converted, for WhatsApp and promised to make it the world's biggest messaging platform – something they have since achieved.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The news comes after WhatsApp was named <a href="http://go.ad2up.com/afu.php?id=451019" rel="nofollow">one of the worst smartphone apps for user privacy</a>.</div>

Latest WhatsApp feature will make you want to THROW your phone across the room

FACEBOOK-OWNED WhatsApp is set to roll-out a new feature that will cause headaches for messenger users across the globe.   WhatsApp u...

Read more »

WhatsApp just shared some BIG news

<h3 style="text-align: justify;"> ONE in seven people on the planet now use WhatsApp to keep in touch with their friends, the Facebook-owned company has confirmed.</h3> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwVJPA2cqqg-6_CwH4-x_z_Ge8kI4AgdjhszJfpahjhwgQG-FzXC2tjG3YNGzFfv0eslTAy_m0oCniwO6gNiOWeOL29jvqw5EO6pi9Il95DqWeb-pxnqEsAm2LVd5GABgZwU4huWgnYMO/s1600/WhatsApp+just+shared+some+BIG+news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp just shared some BIG news" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwVJPA2cqqg-6_CwH4-x_z_Ge8kI4AgdjhszJfpahjhwgQG-FzXC2tjG3YNGzFfv0eslTAy_m0oCniwO6gNiOWeOL29jvqw5EO6pi9Il95DqWeb-pxnqEsAm2LVd5GABgZwU4huWgnYMO/s640/WhatsApp+just+shared+some+BIG+news.jpg" title="WhatsApp just shared some BIG news" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp is now used by one in ever seven people on the planet, Facebook has confirmed </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It's <strong>official</strong>. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/whatsapp-is-most-popular-messenger-in.html">– already the world's most popular messaging app –</a> has now topped one billion active users.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Thanks to its phenomenal success, WhatsApp now has to handle a staggering 42 billion messages and 250 million videos sent across the globe, every day of the week.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> With that amount of data being shared <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/whatsapp-not-working-facebook-owned-app.html">– it's little surprise the service went down over New Years</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19billion, some £11.5 million converted, back in 2014. At the time the service had just 450 million active users.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The US social network, <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/why-you-should-delete-facebook-from.html">recently accused of draining performance on Android smartphones</a>, also owns the second most successful mobile messaging app – <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/639967/Facebook-Messenger-Website-Online">its own Facebook Messenger</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the news on the social network, "One billion people now use WhatsApp.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "WhatsApp's community has more than doubled since joining Facebook. We've added the ability for you to call loved ones far away.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "We've dropped the subscription fee and made WhatsApp completely free.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eVFjIlXwxgjxax2UeXBE9H-yzTfARk5nwWR7D2GQ4PV8OUuE6vWgv9xORJlt8ehzF-heBRf1EesOgEH5tR2E5lNO6GNS6FZ8OidVnpDdP7U29WarShpyH4kNGRTtqijK-M5to1y5rN7M/s1600/WhatsApp+just+shared+some+BIG+news+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp just shared some BIG news" border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eVFjIlXwxgjxax2UeXBE9H-yzTfARk5nwWR7D2GQ4PV8OUuE6vWgv9xORJlt8ehzF-heBRf1EesOgEH5tR2E5lNO6GNS6FZ8OidVnpDdP7U29WarShpyH4kNGRTtqijK-M5to1y5rN7M/s640/WhatsApp+just+shared+some+BIG+news+2.jpg" title="WhatsApp just shared some BIG news" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp allows users to send text, video, audio – and even make calls – for free</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Next, we're going to work to <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/whatsapp-is-now-completely-free-but.html">connect more people around the world and make it easier to communicate with businesses</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "There are only a few services that connect more than a billion people. This milestone is an important step towards connecting the entire world."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/whatsapp-is-now-completely-free-but.html">recently confirmed it would drop the annual 69p subscription fee</a> because, according to its co-founder Jan Koum, <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/whatsapp-is-now-completely-free-but.html">the business model "really doesn’t work for some people"</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The cross-platform messenger was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, both former employees of Yahoo!</div> <div class="p402_hide htmlappend"><section class="text-description"><!-- Start of Brightcove Player --> <div style="display:none"> </div> <!-- By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and C found at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/. --> <script src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script> <object class="BrightcoveExperience" id="myExperience4703621727001"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <param name="width" value="640" /> <param name="height" value="360" /> <param name="playerID" value="4581640862001" /> <param name="playerKey" value="AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89U_VDxSv3YHBd4nA3r5ipc3" /> <param name="isVid" value="true" /> <param name="isUI" value="true" /> <param name="linkBaseURL" value="" /> <param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true" /> <param name="htmlFallback" value="true" /> <param name="includeAPI" value="true" /> <param name="templateLoadHandler" value="onTemplateLoaded" /> <param name="templateReadyHandler" value="onTemplateReady" /> <param name="@videoPlayer" value="4703621727001" /> </object> <!-- This script tag will cause the Brightcove Players defined above it to be created as soon as the line is read by the browser. If you wish to have the player instantiated only after the rest of the HTML is processed and the page load is complete, remove the line. --> <script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script> <!-- End of Brightcove Player --></section></div>

WhatsApp just shared some BIG news

ONE in seven people on the planet now use WhatsApp to keep in touch with their friends, the Facebook-owned company has confirmed.   Wh...

Read more »

WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING

<h3 style="text-align: justify;"> WHATSAPP, the world's most popular messaging app, went down this morning, leaving users worldwide frustrated.</h3> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRbvkYTH3Hs0YRwI1b1JHkh35MipJKpV3DnVUO7kEoqh4xryo1IAIjPjST5nPnqeL6gee-y28LXeiOwFPMrvUts6GFjn4e1sQfGNR7YYhs3nFk_w2EY5zPrUoVU9tWS0CyAGnkuwowvjU/s1600/WhatsApp+DOWN-+Users+furious+as+messaging+service+NOT+WORKING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRbvkYTH3Hs0YRwI1b1JHkh35MipJKpV3DnVUO7kEoqh4xryo1IAIjPjST5nPnqeL6gee-y28LXeiOwFPMrvUts6GFjn4e1sQfGNR7YYhs3nFk_w2EY5zPrUoVU9tWS0CyAGnkuwowvjU/s640/WhatsApp+DOWN-+Users+furious+as+messaging+service+NOT+WORKING.jpg" title="WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp users were furious after the app went down</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The service, which boasts more than 900 million users worldwide, experience the outage at around 2:15am UK time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One angry Twitter user, known as Alisa, wrote: "What the f*** WhatsApp? Why you gotta be down right now?"</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Another told her followers: "I deleted WhatsApp because I thought it was broken and lost all my chat history."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp allows users to send text, video and audio messages around the world over an internet connection.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The messenger was aquired by Facebook boss Mark Zuckerburg for an for an eye-watering $19billion (£13billion) in February 2014.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Months later Facebook removed the ability to send messages from its main mobile app, forcing users to download Facebook Messenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaZffsDYztZIyCMR-BlgwdtIJIaMx_xPCp0tdoq6EUlfB8B3o0i7Kvb_Sr65pGzERJRj20wN3qKOGHp4S0tsU4EIyw2Y1zx60SO87j1L6fYb_knGR-q3jRHWNJazztYwbb41mFeEArj4I/s1600/WhatsApp+DOWN-+Users+furious+as+messaging+service+NOT+WORKING+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaZffsDYztZIyCMR-BlgwdtIJIaMx_xPCp0tdoq6EUlfB8B3o0i7Kvb_Sr65pGzERJRj20wN3qKOGHp4S0tsU4EIyw2Y1zx60SO87j1L6fYb_knGR-q3jRHWNJazztYwbb41mFeEArj4I/s640/WhatsApp+DOWN-+Users+furious+as+messaging+service+NOT+WORKING+2.jpg" title="WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg bought WhatsApp in 2014</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp last experienced an outage on New Year's Eve – with users around the globe reporting down-time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A spokesperson for the app then said: "Some people have had trouble accessing WhatsApp for a short period today.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "We're working to restore service back to 100 per cent for everyone and we apologise for the inconvenience."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC78yhzZsY2lvma9iUhp1MzjDu37itlMUDXFJgECGIBBNkNrvD1lKP74C6qUWWu4E3OlloOEWY8BDbzLgXuHnbzob2DbDROiXIeZt2VWWR7z0VaCge_eUqlVgC8TsVu0hyphenhyphenMH77fz6ugC37/s1600/WhatsApp+DOWN-+Users+furious+as+messaging+service+NOT+WORKING+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC78yhzZsY2lvma9iUhp1MzjDu37itlMUDXFJgECGIBBNkNrvD1lKP74C6qUWWu4E3OlloOEWY8BDbzLgXuHnbzob2DbDROiXIeZt2VWWR7z0VaCge_eUqlVgC8TsVu0hyphenhyphenMH77fz6ugC37/s640/WhatsApp+DOWN-+Users+furious+as+messaging+service+NOT+WORKING+3.jpg" title="WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The messaging service last went down on New Year's Day</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Last year WhatsApp was rated the worst app for protecting users' data by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It failed in almost every category in the group's damning report, entitled Who Has Your Back? and released in June.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The app does not require a warrant before handing over content sent and received by customers, the EFF claimed.</div> <div class="p402_hide htmlappend"><section class="text-description"><!-- Start of Brightcove Player --> <div style="display:none"> </div> <!-- By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and C found at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/. --> <script src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script> <object class="BrightcoveExperience" id="myExperience4705662272001"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <param name="width" value="640" /> <param name="height" value="360" /> <param name="playerID" value="4581640862001" /> <param name="playerKey" value="AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89U_VDxSv3YHBd4nA3r5ipc3" /> <param name="isVid" value="true" /> <param name="isUI" value="true" /> <param name="linkBaseURL" value="" /> <param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true" /> <param name="htmlFallback" value="true" /> <param name="includeAPI" value="true" /> <param name="templateLoadHandler" value="onTemplateLoaded" /> <param name="templateReadyHandler" value="onTemplateReady" /> <param name="@videoPlayer" value="4705662272001" /> </object> <!-- This script tag will cause the Brightcove Players defined above it to be created as soon as the line is read by the browser. If you wish to have the player instantiated only after the rest of the HTML is processed and the page load is complete, remove the line. --> <script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script> <!-- End of Brightcove Player --></section></div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

WhatsApp DOWN: Users furious as messaging service NOT WORKING

WHATSAPP, the world's most popular messaging app, went down this morning, leaving users worldwide frustrated.   WhatsApp users we...

Read more »

WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"> WHATSAPP will drop its annual 69p in-app subscription fee within the next few weeks, co-founder Jan Koum has confirmed. But the hugely popular Facebook-owned app plans to replace the yearly cost with a worrying new revenue stream.</h2> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7TMGTsR7GK4EJmuU2wBc3KV-uxfyPIeYuU0QuwTECCZkkIGQ59mdPXabyl3epNucfplpEWN0BfTDsR3OSw7GTLjYH-sJxfvVUKP6tBdHF8tDaxQooEaQ01hVPPRqZvs3NyQz3p6G4Uyi/s1600/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7TMGTsR7GK4EJmuU2wBc3KV-uxfyPIeYuU0QuwTECCZkkIGQ59mdPXabyl3epNucfplpEWN0BfTDsR3OSw7GTLjYH-sJxfvVUKP6tBdHF8tDaxQooEaQ01hVPPRqZvs3NyQz3p6G4Uyi/s640/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH.jpg" title="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook-owned WhatsApp is dropping its yearly 69p subscription cost in favour of a new model </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp is ditching its annual 69p subscription fee in favour of a new business model, founder Jan Koum has confirmed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The WhatsApp creator made the announcement this morning at the Digital-Life-Design Conference in Munich.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp is free to download on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia and Windows 10 Mobile and lets users send text, video and audio around the world using a wifi or mobile data connection. The hugely popular app, which <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/whatsapp-is-most-popular-messenger-in.html">now boasts a staggering 900 million users across the globe</a>, charges users a yearly 69p subscription to keep the messenger ad-free.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But that <strong>could be about to change</strong>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76aNzGAwz08b-6a3yU97jhnrnV-eh7EGbDoWWW1lmTLyNj8IxTF8YGSIH40Oh7p6Ve49Ge4UM2tLx_OmuK-soNKlUqVn2Hv8to-Ja6TGVA1utdG6bvFg9QlQciQxT77WhLxrN24JssCYF/s1600/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76aNzGAwz08b-6a3yU97jhnrnV-eh7EGbDoWWW1lmTLyNj8IxTF8YGSIH40Oh7p6Ve49Ge4UM2tLx_OmuK-soNKlUqVn2Hv8to-Ja6TGVA1utdG6bvFg9QlQciQxT77WhLxrN24JssCYF/s640/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+2.jpg" title="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp allows users to send text, video, audio – and even make calls – for free</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Founder Mr Koum said the subscription model “really doesn’t work for some people” and that other cross-platform messaging apps, like Facebook Messenger, are completely free to use.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp plans to replace the 69p charge by connecting companies directly with users via the app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Koum admitted they have not settled on a final plan yet, but as it stands, it appears WhatsApp will charge multi-national companies to conduct customer service chats and calls via WhatsApp.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For example, an airline could use the app to contact customers about a flight cancellation or upcoming delays.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp says despite the changes, its goal remains to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">avoid</span> spam and unwanted advertising within the hugely-successful app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In an official blog post, the messaging firm wrote: “Naturally, people might wonder how we plan to keep WhatsApp running without subscription fees and if today’s announcement means we’re introducing third-party ads. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The answer is no.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Starting this year, we will test tools that allow you to use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses and organizations that you want to hear from.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “That could mean communicating with your bank about whether a recent transaction was fraudulent, or with an airline about a delayed flight. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We all get these messages elsewhere today – through text messages and phone calls – so we want to test new tools to make this easier to do on WhatsApp, while still giving you an experience without third-party ads and spam.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwGv1mJVJ-D8LoInCaBVzng6FcAZx-YqQbCMwmx5D2Mn4FwYScjuu-Z13Cx_ihfS6AN2XS9YgS_Wk5j0YuyFKoRGKaRm_U7C8Kt7K7Y5OfO7kcx92pGAPYN90Zn2wXBPtQadQYbTQZlzM/s1600/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwGv1mJVJ-D8LoInCaBVzng6FcAZx-YqQbCMwmx5D2Mn4FwYScjuu-Z13Cx_ihfS6AN2XS9YgS_Wk5j0YuyFKoRGKaRm_U7C8Kt7K7Y5OfO7kcx92pGAPYN90Zn2wXBPtQadQYbTQZlzM/s640/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+3.jpg" title="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum with actress Lily Collins at the 2016 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bM2gZuHfplnYj5Yi6yc8WqtQqPXPrk2XWS4k94oWQaUwG2uIAQ77f5hiiDpZaj0jWxO8KQE8CZ6r-M2FPC5-_gc4nXpgUYXcKUk16B_3gmupiLmYG744jE2n0eEbW4Sd4l5XLtsehA9P/s1600/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bM2gZuHfplnYj5Yi6yc8WqtQqPXPrk2XWS4k94oWQaUwG2uIAQ77f5hiiDpZaj0jWxO8KQE8CZ6r-M2FPC5-_gc4nXpgUYXcKUk16B_3gmupiLmYG744jE2n0eEbW4Sd4l5XLtsehA9P/s640/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+4.jpg" title="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp was sold to Facebook for a staggering $19 billion, back in 2014</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Facebook, which acquired WhatsApp for an eye-watering $19 billion in 2014, is already testing out the feature in its own Facebook Messenger app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Select US companies have been given the opportunity to pay for the ability to message their customers directly via the app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Facebook Chief Financial Officer David Wehner confirmed the possible business-to-consumer (B2C) integration at a technology conference in Boston.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "We think that enabling that B2C messaging has good business potential for us," he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The news comes after <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/whatsapp-ban-camerons-eu-referendum.html">WhatsApp was named one of the worst smartphone apps for user privacy</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><!-- Start of Brightcove Player --> <div style="display:none"> </div> <!-- By use of this code snippet, I agree to the Brightcove Publisher T and C found at https://accounts.brightcove.com/en/terms-and-conditions/. --> <script src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script> <object class="BrightcoveExperience" id="myExperience4703621727001"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /> <param name="width" value="640" /> <param name="height" value="360" /> <param name="playerID" value="4581640862001" /> <param name="playerKey" value="AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89U_VDxSv3YHBd4nA3r5ipc3" /> <param name="isVid" value="true" /> <param name="isUI" value="true" /> <param name="linkBaseURL" value="" /> <param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true" /> <param name="htmlFallback" value="true" /> <param name="includeAPI" value="true" /> <param name="templateLoadHandler" value="onTemplateLoaded" /> <param name="templateReadyHandler" value="onTemplateReady" /> <param name="@videoPlayer" value="4703621727001" /> </object> <!-- This script tag will cause the Brightcove Players defined above it to be created as soon as the line is read by the browser. If you wish to have the player instantiated only after the rest of the HTML is processed and the page load is complete, remove the line. --> <script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script> <!-- End of Brightcove Player --> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton are known for their staunch anti-advertisement policy within WhatsApp.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "We wanted to make something that wasn't just another ad clearinghouse," the pair wrote on the official WhatsApp blog.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Advertising isn't just the disruption of aesthetics, the insults to your intelligence and the interruption of your train of thought.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e2zybF0h7icCGV-7Rn0nsdcO5QXET_OAPv5DaYhyphenhyphenDTONyiDHW3S6ZosL4Dp3-qN4ZyJPR5SekjVBObaR4uzKMSSLyNIx1rhA3tSMdSvuzhy3d4bVt2QYCxw3fgzladG7q1tR1mn163Fx/s1600/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e2zybF0h7icCGV-7Rn0nsdcO5QXET_OAPv5DaYhyphenhyphenDTONyiDHW3S6ZosL4Dp3-qN4ZyJPR5SekjVBObaR4uzKMSSLyNIx1rhA3tSMdSvuzhy3d4bVt2QYCxw3fgzladG7q1tR1mn163Fx/s640/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+5.jpg" title="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum has always been notoriously anti-advertising within his app</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PPiWanNaDg11lg5gnIPmxMZNU6zLWh1I8UIHn0mlS6bkjeH8WNivF7HuySQH-z1Y87O34PhxEQ6T8E2FICT7MTR5loCkIiG2GkkfCuJepYantBU4byexu03FQPWs1yvYi4_SX0x-aEm_/s1600/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PPiWanNaDg11lg5gnIPmxMZNU6zLWh1I8UIHn0mlS6bkjeH8WNivF7HuySQH-z1Y87O34PhxEQ6T8E2FICT7MTR5loCkIiG2GkkfCuJepYantBU4byexu03FQPWs1yvYi4_SX0x-aEm_/s640/WhatsApp+is+now+completely+FREE%252C+but+there%25E2%2580%2599s+a+worrying+CATCH+6.jpg" title="WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp claims its goal remains to avoid spam within the free app </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "At every company that sells ads, a significant portion of their engineering team spends their day tuning data mining, writing better code to collect all your personal data, upgrading the servers that hold all the data and making sure it's all being logged and collated and sliced and packaged and shipped out... And at the end of the day the result of it all is a slightly different advertising banner in your browser or on your mobile screen.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Remember, when advertising is involved you the user are the product. At WhatsApp, our engineers spend all their time fixing bugs, adding new features and ironing out all the little intricacies in our task of bringing rich, affordable, reliable messaging to every phone in the world. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "That's our product and that's our passion. Your data isn't even in the picture. We are simply not interested in any of it."</div> <script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

WhatsApp is now completely FREE, but there’s a worrying CATCH

WHATSAPP will drop its annual 69p in-app subscription fee within the next few weeks, co-founder Jan Koum has confirmed. But the hugely popu...

Read more »

WATCH VIDEO: Here's how to read a WhatsApp message without the sender knowing

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"> AVOID the dreaded blue ticks in WhatsApp with this simple trick.</h2> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="378" id="flashObj" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=4705662272001&playerID=2538956444001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89XEkLQHlpWPz_5DAA2-uG70&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=4705662272001&playerID=2538956444001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89XEkLQHlpWPz_5DAA2-uG70&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="378" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The pesky double-blue ticks next to a WhatsApp text, voice memo, photo or video have triggered many an awkward social interaction.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When both ticks appear next to a message it lets the sender know his or her message has successfully been received, and read.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In fact, swiping across the same message will reveal exactly when it hit the recipients' device and when they got around to reading it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Thankfully – if you want to avoid letting your recipient know you've read their last message, there's a simply trick.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com tested the trick earlier today, check out the video above to see how it works.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The news comes after an <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/warning-your-boss-can-now-read-every.html">ECHR ruling revealed that UK bosses can snoop on thier employees' WhatsApp messages</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIpWWK6F6H9obxY1mHWzdrc4q8D0NFYay27hXOn_s6OOV9LEP9kFbj7hRBxDIGosG-nHl9-Iipp85x1P1rsCzayYNtVTZl-taCvskFIcLaZpr86YxoknknvyAAiBWU8DQJHOT0S6pNqVE/s1600/WATCH+VIDEO-+Here%2527s+how+to+read+a+WhatsApp+message+without+the+sender+knowing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WATCH VIDEO: Here's how to read a WhatsApp message without the sender knowing" border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIpWWK6F6H9obxY1mHWzdrc4q8D0NFYay27hXOn_s6OOV9LEP9kFbj7hRBxDIGosG-nHl9-Iipp85x1P1rsCzayYNtVTZl-taCvskFIcLaZpr86YxoknknvyAAiBWU8DQJHOT0S6pNqVE/s640/WATCH+VIDEO-+Here%2527s+how+to+read+a+WhatsApp+message+without+the+sender+knowing.jpg" title="WATCH VIDEO: Here's how to read a WhatsApp message without the sender knowing" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This simple trick avoids any awkward blue ticks in WhatsApp you can't explain</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>Here's how to re-create the tip –</strong></h2> <div style="text-align: justify;"> • When you receive a potentially-problematic WhatsApp message do NOT open it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> • Instead, navigate to the settings on your device – drag up from the bottom for Control Centre on iOS, to down from the top for the Quick Settings in Android – and switch-on <em>Airplane Mode</em>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> • Now that you have cut-off any data to and from your smartphone you can safely launch the WhatsApp app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> • You might have to dismiss a warning pop-up about the app not working correctly in <em>Airplane Mode</em>, but then you're free to navigate to the message or image of your choice and have a read.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> • Next close the app completely – iOS users can double-tap on the home button and swipe-up on the WhatsApp preview pane, while Android smartphone owners should tap the multitask button and swipe the preview to the left to dismiss it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> • Once the app is closed, it is safe to turn-off <em>Airplane Mode.</em></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Remember – the next time you launch WhatsApp without <em>Airplane Mode</em> enabled, the blue ticks will re-appear.</div> <script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

WATCH VIDEO: Here's how to read a WhatsApp message without the sender knowing

AVOID the dreaded blue ticks in WhatsApp with this simple trick.   The pesky double-blue ticks next to a WhatsApp text, voice memo, pho...

Read more »

WARNING: Your boss can now read EVERY Facebook and WhatsApp message you send at WORK

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"> EMPLOYERS can now snoop through every private message you send via webmail accounts and chat software, including Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, EU judges have today ruled.</h2> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR5gcG-TUJW5oTZ3vOTCCngJUcix0_Kl6LYAw9aPtQLMhKRN1-mw05zV5n6yhWojKKi4Z1WEkSQCOZ4WxqNACNazIIK6JK18K7NxB_I1JwdOi1UWDvVVwLMZo3qiKgzIUV9aBpiDlivZ4/s1600/WARNING-+Your+boss+can+now+read+EVERY+Facebook+and+WhatsApp+message+you+send+at+WORK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WARNING: Your boss can now read EVERY Facebook and WhatsApp message you send at WORK " border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR5gcG-TUJW5oTZ3vOTCCngJUcix0_Kl6LYAw9aPtQLMhKRN1-mw05zV5n6yhWojKKi4Z1WEkSQCOZ4WxqNACNazIIK6JK18K7NxB_I1JwdOi1UWDvVVwLMZo3qiKgzIUV9aBpiDlivZ4/s640/WARNING-+Your+boss+can+now+read+EVERY+Facebook+and+WhatsApp+message+you+send+at+WORK.jpg" title="WARNING: Your boss can now read EVERY Facebook and WhatsApp message you send at WORK " width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Employers can read private messages sent over the internet by workers during office hours</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> If you send messages to your friends and family via WhatsApp, Facebook, or any other online chat client – you should probably make sure its safe for work.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, has ruled that employers are allowed to read private messages sent via chat software and webmail accounts during working hours.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The move comes after judges sitting in the ECHR in Strasbourg ruled a company was well within its rights when it read an employee's Yahoo Messenger chats.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Bogdan Barbulescu – a Romania worker – was sacked in 2007 after his employer discovered he was accessing private messages during work hours.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv4Iwa-uGMb1tdWPgUhaxDpqiM1fd6Oe8q-MFVvZm-ma5fopr9IC377Rzm4RaCexUSiXEpF44jmQqr-5mktNyFNCDje3E8qhG_IMBB66fPsdNzbHGUd2P7sVArKUY_Xj8Mn2WbkDa3xzN/s1600/WARNING-+Your+boss+can+now+read+EVERY+Facebook+and+WhatsApp+message+you+send+at+WORK++2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WARNING: Your boss can now read EVERY Facebook and WhatsApp message you send at WORK " border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsv4Iwa-uGMb1tdWPgUhaxDpqiM1fd6Oe8q-MFVvZm-ma5fopr9IC377Rzm4RaCexUSiXEpF44jmQqr-5mktNyFNCDje3E8qhG_IMBB66fPsdNzbHGUd2P7sVArKUY_Xj8Mn2WbkDa3xzN/s640/WARNING-+Your+boss+can+now+read+EVERY+Facebook+and+WhatsApp+message+you+send+at+WORK++2.jpg" title="WARNING: Your boss can now read EVERY Facebook and WhatsApp message you send at WORK " width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ruling affects all EU countries that have ratified the ECHR, including Britain</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Barbulescu had asked the court to rule the employer had breached his right to confidential correspondence when it accessed his messages – he used the app to chat to his fiancee and brother as well as professional contacts.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He lost his case in Romania's domestic courts and had appealed to the ECHR.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But judges have ruled Mr Barbulescu breached company rules – which prohibited the use of the messaging app for personal conversations – and therefore his employer had every right to check what he was up to.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This ruling now applies to every country that has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights – which includes Great Britain.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In a statement, the ECHR judges said: "The employer acted within its disciplinary powers since, as the domestic courts found, it had accessed the Yahoo Messenger account on the assumption that the information in question had been related to professional activities and that such access had therefore been legitimate. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "The court sees no reason to question these findings."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In passing down the ruling, the judges also said that unregulated snooping on employees would not be acceptable, and called on a set of polices to be drawn up by employers that would clearly state what information they could collect and how.</div> <script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

WARNING: Your boss can now read EVERY Facebook and WhatsApp message you send at WORK

EMPLOYERS can now snoop through every private message you send via webmail accounts and chat software, including Facebook Messenger and Wha...

Read more »

Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email

<div style="text-align: justify;"> WHATSAPP users have been warned against a dangerous new malware campaign, which hopes to trick messenger users into installing an executable file.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KIiSd1dKAz_vYXBsb-hvQtE6L2kpY1wE69PgrvtD0MEc6fvJ1dEhb65RgHP6TJUXoOoydeeCU37y_D_-NO7Tf7zAyLqWLgEwbOlYjQBSOT6ncT3hH1kbtWMzLrx4LoICuIypnXxRMfr7/s1600/Whatever+you+do%252C+do+NOT+open+this+WhatsApp+email.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email" border="0" height="640" src="" title="Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Criminals hope to trick WhatsApp users into opening the email – and downloading the attached virus</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cybercriminals circulating malware have set their sights on WhatsApp users, researchers have discovered.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The malware is being distributed in emails, which look as if they have been sent from an official WhatsApp account, researchers at Comodo Labs have revealed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Criminals hope to trick WhatsApp users into opening the email – and downloading the attached virus.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Messages from the criminals contain suggestive subject lines including, "you have obtained a voice notification", "an audio memo was missed", "a brief audio recording has been delivered" and "a short vocal recording was obtained".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Some WhatsApp users are being sent other notifications too, including a fake notification about a new video note, Comodo has confirmed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> None of these emails originate from a WhatsApp email address – but are "disguised with an umbrella branding", the security firm added.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Each of these malicious messages contains a compressed ZIP file, which will unleash the hidden malware inside.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The malware usually replicates itself into different system folders, adding itself into an auto-run in the computer’s registry.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v0KWVj0YhqM8JnU92dazvshyphenhyphenU3BObflnOla0-KY7VYEuTr7Ywf_OX_AZSzJRdXyg_A6lwfqroHl0GUhyphenhyphen6kpuIU4Iopv6eXqJJYiUTsLbVXDeHb5uRR7W8mhIWe9XW9X1UOhdUEKduOAx/s1600/Whatever+you+do%252C+do+NOT+open+this+WhatsApp+email+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email" border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v0KWVj0YhqM8JnU92dazvshyphenhyphenU3BObflnOla0-KY7VYEuTr7Ywf_OX_AZSzJRdXyg_A6lwfqroHl0GUhyphenhyphen6kpuIU4Iopv6eXqJJYiUTsLbVXDeHb5uRR7W8mhIWe9XW9X1UOhdUEKduOAx/s640/Whatever+you+do%252C+do+NOT+open+this+WhatsApp+email+2.jpg" title="Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of the one of the false WhatsApp emails</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Cybercriminals are becoming more and more like marketers – trying to use creative subject lines to have unsuspecting emails be clicked and opened to spread malware," said Fatih Orhan, Director of Technology for Comodo and the Comodo Antispam Labs.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "As a company, Comodo is working diligently in creating innovative technology solutions that stay a step ahead of the cybercriminals, protect and secure endpoints, and keep enterprises and IT environments safe."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp is currently <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/whatsapp-is-most-popular-messenger-in.html">the most popular cross-platform messaging app</a> with more than 900 million users worldwide.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/whatsapp-not-working-facebook-owned-app.html">Facebook-owned service crashed on New Years Eve</a>, leaving millions of well-wishers <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/whatsapp-not-working-facebook-owned-app.html">unable to message friends and family at the start of the new year</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The subscription-based messenger allows users to send text, video and audio messages around the world over an internet connection.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The messenger, which is now offered on a yearly subscription plan of 69p, also offers Voice over IP calling, group chats and more.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp bought by Facebook for an eye-watering $19billion last year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9CcIgDKapm2yyEBzK7r-yeuLr24_bTKwWcm7ZQ7EoBjJipokBCESmNTULR6FIj2vx3UsD4vrkFRIrN_18Tc4TP8otHQWLnuA4WyiLZDw6OUikekjBhbEG2F3d7JhCMv1t99AJ1PqdL2v/s1600/Whatever+you+do%252C+do+NOT+open+this+WhatsApp+email+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9CcIgDKapm2yyEBzK7r-yeuLr24_bTKwWcm7ZQ7EoBjJipokBCESmNTULR6FIj2vx3UsD4vrkFRIrN_18Tc4TP8otHQWLnuA4WyiLZDw6OUikekjBhbEG2F3d7JhCMv1t99AJ1PqdL2v/s640/Whatever+you+do%252C+do+NOT+open+this+WhatsApp+email+3.jpg" title="Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook is in control of the 2 most popular mobile messaging apps, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Facebook also owns the second most successful mobile messaging app – its own Facebook Messenger.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The standalone cross-platform chat app currently has some 700million monthly users.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Facebook recently announced that for the first time ever – one billion people accessed Facebook on the same day.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That works out at a staggering one in every seven people on Earth logging in and using the US social service.</div> <script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

Whatever you do, do NOT open this WhatsApp email

WHATSAPP users have been warned against a dangerous new malware campaign, which hopes to trick messenger users into installing an executabl...

Read more »

WhatsApp NOT working: Facebook-owned app goes DOWN during New Years' Eve OUTAGE

<div style="text-align: justify;"> A MAJOR WhatsApp outage has left users across the globe unable to send or receive text messages on New Years’ Eve. Online reports of the Facebook-owned app being DOWN have SURGED.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILZxQoZC3FuoiGKbFpjb5ZINxR-1sNEBswLHRwGyZqcC-BgRTpUxn6IKsWZ_tMFQZDHLu5ss58LmJ5kguHEGO-08-CKAM9kbD4a77h9bkjCkfMmNvtglHKI4L2IRBnyraPiW_fn2bxO8/s1600/WhatsApp+NOT+working-+Facebook-owned+app+goes+DOWN+during+New+Years%2527+Eve+OUTAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp NOT working: Facebook-owned app goes DOWN during New Years' Eve OUTAGE" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILZxQoZC3FuoiGKbFpjb5ZINxR-1sNEBswLHRwGyZqcC-BgRTpUxn6IKsWZ_tMFQZDHLu5ss58LmJ5kguHEGO-08-CKAM9kbD4a77h9bkjCkfMmNvtglHKI4L2IRBnyraPiW_fn2bxO8/s640/WhatsApp+NOT+working-+Facebook-owned+app+goes+DOWN+during+New+Years%2527+Eve+OUTAGE.jpg" title="WhatsApp NOT working: Facebook-owned app goes DOWN during New Years' Eve OUTAGE" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fans flocked to social media to complain about the WhatsApp outages across the globe</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> No, it's not just you. WhatsApp really is down.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The cross-platform messaging app is believed to have experienced a series of technical difficulties tonight – leaving well-wishers unable to send text messages in time for the New Year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/whatsapp-is-most-popular-messenger-in.html">The world’s most popular messaging app</a> first began to experience problems at around 4:30PM UK time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Since then, reports of issues across the globe have surged as users flocked to social media to complain about the WhatsApp outages.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp was rated the worst app for protecting users’ data, earlier this year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Independent website DownDetector.uk, which tracks "when services go down or have outages", reported a spike in the number of people complaining about WhatsApp not working properly at around 6:00PM UK time. Most WhatsApp users were complaining about messages not being received.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NnxjYyo-TwcOjA7hF97I5GkvMs9pQOr3mzso27Lc0lgH2p1waYES6XC2EC88cLf6PLVbBqeJ1oyPIsfLGgtkz44-vk5hLQCEBi2h-NKXeL48YL4RKmOW1nsrNv58PJrcIOUYCP8zv0o/s1600/WhatsApp+NOT+working-+Facebook-owned+app+goes+DOWN+during+New+Years%2527+Eve+OUTAGE+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp NOT working: Facebook-owned app goes DOWN during New Years' Eve OUTAGE" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NnxjYyo-TwcOjA7hF97I5GkvMs9pQOr3mzso27Lc0lgH2p1waYES6XC2EC88cLf6PLVbBqeJ1oyPIsfLGgtkz44-vk5hLQCEBi2h-NKXeL48YL4RKmOW1nsrNv58PJrcIOUYCP8zv0o/s640/WhatsApp+NOT+working-+Facebook-owned+app+goes+DOWN+during+New+Years%2527+Eve+OUTAGE+2.jpg" title="WhatsApp NOT working: Facebook-owned app goes DOWN during New Years' Eve OUTAGE" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WhatsApp users have been left unable to send and receive messages for New Years’ Eve</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The news comes hours after the BBC website, online radio and iPlayer on-demand service experienced a number of outages.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A spokesperson for WhatsApp told the MailOnline: "Some people have had trouble accessing WhatsApp for a short period today.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "We're working to restore service back to 100% for everyone and we apologise for the inconvenience."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So Whatsapp is down. Gonna have to go back to texting like a savage 😭</p>— nif (@60ShadesOfCray) <a href="https://twitter.com/60ShadesOfCray/status/682639898994688000">December 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Whatsapp down for anybody else, or just me? It's no where near midnight yet!</p>— Danny Moore (@dan_moore92) <a href="https://twitter.com/dan_moore92/status/682600882320584704">December 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you whatsapp for going down and providing some relief from groups one cannot exit</p>— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZarrarKhuhro/status/682605422742745088">December 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trust WhatsApp to go down on an important night when everyone is organising plans</p>— Nairn Milne (@NairnMilne) <a href="https://twitter.com/NairnMilne/status/682621686861135872">December 31, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Fans of the Facebook-owned messaging app flocked to Twitter to share the news.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One user posted: “So Whatsapp is down. Gonna have to go back to texting like a savage.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Thank you whatsapp for going down and providing some relief from groups one cannot exit,” another added.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One Twitter user joked: “#Whatsapp helping drunk people tonight by taking down its servers #NoRegretfullTexts”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Trust WhatsApp to go down on an important night when everyone is organising plans,” another social media user jeered.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp currently boasts more than 900 million users worldwide.</div> <script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script><div class="p402_hide htmlappend"><section class="text-description"><div class="fb-page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/NewsNewsBlog" data-width="640" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" data-show-posts="false"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/NewsNewsBlog"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NewsNewsBlog">News News Blog</a></blockquote></div></div></section></div>

WhatsApp NOT working: Facebook-owned app goes DOWN during New Years' Eve OUTAGE

A MAJOR WhatsApp outage has left users across the globe unable to send or receive text messages on New Years’ Eve. Online reports of the Fa...

Read more »

UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiYQ9x11lIs0tobSvU-wbAoOdMUuv9vc8HbmFCGx6pTqmA67Ikhn412Wke5oTlbIa5BoIBHunZi2fXwG3XAAGMWkptk7UIVkMipjuVcoy_NCe3QKTbt7_gbIw7bShHxH-uaPCUotGL8Zu/s1600/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiYQ9x11lIs0tobSvU-wbAoOdMUuv9vc8HbmFCGx6pTqmA67Ikhn412Wke5oTlbIa5BoIBHunZi2fXwG3XAAGMWkptk7UIVkMipjuVcoy_NCe3QKTbt7_gbIw7bShHxH-uaPCUotGL8Zu/s640/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS.jpg" title="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Investigatory Powers Bill will not ban WhatsApp, but it could leave customers open to criminals </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> THE DRAFT Investigatory Powers Bill could help cybercriminals access your data, technology firm Apple has cautioned the UK Government.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Apple has <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/watch-porn-online-this-shocking-new-uk.html">raised concerns about the Investigatory Powers Bill to a parliamentary committee</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The iPhone manufacturer believes the legislation could weaken the security protecting the personal data of "hundreds of millions of law-abiding citizens."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Investigatory Powers Bill <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/watch-porn-online-this-shocking-new-uk.html">– currently in its draft stage –</a> could overhaul the rules governing how authorities can snoop on people's communications.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/snooping-laws-will-leave-you-vulnerable.html">Under proposals outlined by Home Secretary Theresa May</a>, communication firms will be legally required to help spies hack into suspects' smartphones and computers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> One of the biggest and most controversial new powers afforded in the bill will force broadband firms to hold basic details of every service and website you have accessed online.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcggWW3RH_u82-AyeYuNv0PuLkHTHOZkcScmaA1Mqw95cMkjwjqn2ir76sWrTD3ZLsugeP4PWaCbGIQ5dJpEQP3E9gqa_un_SPl2QtOfT8uHmWL7T77v3_BphCc000JY4_3nEDDxohAjCB/s1600/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS+2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcggWW3RH_u82-AyeYuNv0PuLkHTHOZkcScmaA1Mqw95cMkjwjqn2ir76sWrTD3ZLsugeP4PWaCbGIQ5dJpEQP3E9gqa_un_SPl2QtOfT8uHmWL7T77v3_BphCc000JY4_3nEDDxohAjCB/s640/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS+2+-+Copy.jpg" title="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple CEO Tim Cook has warned the Investigatory Powers Bill would leave Britons vulnerable</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwITmvv8SGAPwuS8ocBHfyJXCg59awwbeYo0NqewHVGFfIuqDe24XsKAR7J_tRSy_ePk-INggJmmiHkKHUhUezbkD0lBB4nKEU-eGrpKOFb2iiyCj0-wchg0VDg6ne_N3C3smRSxS05_z/s1600/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwITmvv8SGAPwuS8ocBHfyJXCg59awwbeYo0NqewHVGFfIuqDe24XsKAR7J_tRSy_ePk-INggJmmiHkKHUhUezbkD0lBB4nKEU-eGrpKOFb2iiyCj0-wchg0VDg6ne_N3C3smRSxS05_z/s640/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS+3.jpg" title="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Investigatory Powers Bill is a watered down edit of an earlier draft, dubbed Snoopers' Charter</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "It will provide the strongest safeguards and world-leading oversight arrangements," Theresa May told parliament.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "And it will give the men and women of our security and intelligence agencies and our law enforcement agencies ... the powers they need to protect our country."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But Californian technology firm Apple is believed to have passed on its thoughts to the parliamentary committee scrutinising the legislation.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to the <em>Financial Times</em>, Apple said demands for the ability to access data held in other countries would "immobilise substantial portions of the tech sector and spark serious international conflicts".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The technique allows authorities to interfere with electronic devices in order to obtain data and can range from remotely accessing a computer to covertly downloading the contents of a mobile phone.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is seen as an increasingly crucial tool as advanced encryption makes intercepting targets' communications more difficult.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> There are also fears in technology circles that the proposals will hit services offering "end-to-end encryption" such as WhatsApp and Apple's iMessage.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However the Home Secretary has assured that the legislation "will not ban encryption or do anything to undermine the security of people's data".</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But Apple has warned against the proposals.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The US firm – and world's most valuable company – argues that the existence of a backdoor creates a vulnerability that others could exploit, making data stored or sent online less secure.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMXnmtgEKJ291Cxpisg76nELMLvRyVYDUDnhkzg3Qko_1_JK3EjDYowwBqy01whkFB7KlmHWbbyxHv00rBs9kMapK6i0BzKJuE-Ydsu4OpHKKkWRnip7o-ddkWK5jsjJ9JPqEAeuWALxC/s1600/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMXnmtgEKJ291Cxpisg76nELMLvRyVYDUDnhkzg3Qko_1_JK3EjDYowwBqy01whkFB7KlmHWbbyxHv00rBs9kMapK6i0BzKJuE-Ydsu4OpHKKkWRnip7o-ddkWK5jsjJ9JPqEAeuWALxC/s640/UK+snooping+law+won%2527t+ban+WhatsApp%252C+but+could+leave+your+data+open+to+HACKERS+4.jpg" title="UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple uses end-to-end encryption to secure customers' information</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "A key left under the doormat would not just be there for the good guys. The bad guys would find it too," the company writes in an eight-page submission to the committee.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In an interview with the <em>Daily Telegraph</em> last month, Apple boss Tim Cook said any attempt to weaken encryption could have "very dire consequences", harming consumers by making their data less secure.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "To protect people who use any products, you have to encrypt. You can just look around and see all the data breaches that are going on.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "These things are becoming more frequent. They can not only result in privacy breaches but also security issues. We believe very strongly in end-to-end encryption and no back doors," he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr Cook warned: "We don't think people want us to read their messages. We don't feel we have the right to read their emails.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Any back door is a back door for everyone. Everybody wants to crack down on terrorists. Everybody wants to be secure. The question is how. Opening a back door can have very dire consequences."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The proposed new laws could impose obligations on telecommunications providers requiring them to remove "electronic protection" applied to "communications or data".</div>

UK snooping law won't ban WhatsApp, but could leave your data open to HACKERS

The Investigatory Powers Bill will not ban WhatsApp, but it could leave customers open to criminals   THE DRAFT Investigatory Power...

Read more »

Apple will NOT be happy about this, WhatsApp is about to get a MAJOR new feature

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKQ-Etoky6MIG-FXduYYlRlWR08LegL4ay-x9_JmFFgEUY01tC-9wSIz9wCtPpkeHw8RmvTJoIn-3UoZqq3OH057u3KFWdx_GZKUkwwL68Ob0a3hFkPWi-Rfafac9K9x7kZN9-ddhQpIm/s1600/Apple+will+NOT+be+happy+about+this%252C+WhatsApp+is+about+to+get+a+MAJOR+new+feature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Apple will NOT be happy about this, WhatsApp is about to get a MAJOR new feature" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKQ-Etoky6MIG-FXduYYlRlWR08LegL4ay-x9_JmFFgEUY01tC-9wSIz9wCtPpkeHw8RmvTJoIn-3UoZqq3OH057u3KFWdx_GZKUkwwL68Ob0a3hFkPWi-Rfafac9K9x7kZN9-ddhQpIm/s640/Apple+will+NOT+be+happy+about+this%252C+WhatsApp+is+about+to+get+a+MAJOR+new+feature.jpg" title="Apple will NOT be happy about this, WhatsApp is about to get a MAJOR new feature" width="596" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The leaked WhatsApp screenshots reveal a MAJOR new feature for 2016</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A SERIES of leaked images have revealed a MAJOR new feature coming to WhatsApp in the new year.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp has already appealed to millions of fans around the globe thanks to free instant messages and calls.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But now the Facebook-owned messenger is looking into including video calls, like Skype or Apple's FaceTime services.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A leaked screenshot – first published by German Apple blog Macerkopf.de – claims free WhatsApp video calls are coming soon.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The iOS screenshots appear to show a full-screen video feed from the caller, with a smaller video from the caller's camera overlaid in a small preview.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5juOEZpDDrh1gv09glnTvP1o4YFvtiECGQ5PFyKpNuUMCU5Ls_v27UbuLzXWa3sOLNarAB9XPQSJlUTwFD7yNoecoUkSKRnBDXlGm77wA_4dOG-E7WGG9iZ9fSPOIGyuQo3qE99Uzsu8/s1600/Apple+will+NOT+be+happy+about+this%252C+WhatsApp+is+about+to+get+a+MAJOR+new+feature+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Apple will NOT be happy about this, WhatsApp is about to get a MAJOR new feature" border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5juOEZpDDrh1gv09glnTvP1o4YFvtiECGQ5PFyKpNuUMCU5Ls_v27UbuLzXWa3sOLNarAB9XPQSJlUTwFD7yNoecoUkSKRnBDXlGm77wA_4dOG-E7WGG9iZ9fSPOIGyuQo3qE99Uzsu8/s640/Apple+will+NOT+be+happy+about+this%252C+WhatsApp+is+about+to+get+a+MAJOR+new+feature+2.jpg" title="Apple will NOT be happy about this, WhatsApp is about to get a MAJOR new feature" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The image from Mackerkopf shows how video messaging could look</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Similar to FaceTime, it's believed WhatsApp will let callers switch the cameras on the chats to show your face or what's going on around you.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Calls are expected to be supported on both wifi and 4G data connections.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The screenshots are reported to have been taken from WhatsApp’s latest version (2.12.16.2) which has yet to be released.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It is unclear when the latest update to the iOS version of WhatsApp will roll-out.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The news comes weeks after the latest update to WhatsApp was pushed out to iPhone owners.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The November 30th update included new 3D Touch options for iPhone 6S and 6S Plus users.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="378" id="flashObj" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=4136487753001&playerID=2538956444001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89XEkLQHlpWPz_5DAA2-uG70&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=4136487753001&playerID=2538956444001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACT2hWexE~,QV-ElXQT89XEkLQHlpWPz_5DAA2-uG70&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="640" height="378" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It also bundled the ability to 'star' messages, and the option to send or receive web links with a rich preview.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This will generate a preview of the link or video within the message – it's not a killer feature but does improve the look of the app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Finally, if you are on Android Marshmallow, WhatsApp recently introduced the ability to Direct Share in the app.</div>

Apple will NOT be happy about this, WhatsApp is about to get a MAJOR new feature

The leaked WhatsApp screenshots reveal a MAJOR new feature for 2016   A SERIES of leaked images have revealed a MAJOR new feature c...

Read more »

WhatsApp BAN: Popular smartphone messenger BLOCKED for 48 hours

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXsrx_dqGrq77tbR5pMCUmPI5an4SXVkhiA9H9hN0Nm33CnUqEIJvwfSafg9aCtiDbvJyAD_lCv9W3mcpgvr0fJ6rNJdiJIZAweSn0a5Hesg6BqhLpb6VH1Pegalqh6hBKjB67X6kW8Kl/s1600/WhatsApp+BAN-+Popular+smartphone+messenger+BLOCKED+for+48+hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp BAN: Popular smartphone messenger BLOCKED for 48 hours" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXsrx_dqGrq77tbR5pMCUmPI5an4SXVkhiA9H9hN0Nm33CnUqEIJvwfSafg9aCtiDbvJyAD_lCv9W3mcpgvr0fJ6rNJdiJIZAweSn0a5Hesg6BqhLpb6VH1Pegalqh6hBKjB67X6kW8Kl/s640/WhatsApp+BAN-+Popular+smartphone+messenger+BLOCKED+for+48+hours.jpg" title="WhatsApp BAN: Popular smartphone messenger BLOCKED for 48 hours" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook-owned WhatsApp has been banned in Brazil for the next 48 hours</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WHATSAPP has been banned for 48 hours – leaving 90 million users blocked from hugely popular cross-platform messaging service.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/whatsapp-ban-camerons-eu-referendum.html">After months of speculation</a>, WhatsApp has finally been banned.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The hugely popular messenger has come under threat from governments around the world over the last year <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/whatsapp-ban-mi5-boss-kickstarts.html">– and was even rumoured to be blocked in the UK over security fears</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But now the Facebook-owned service has been banned in Brazil for 48-hours.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A judge in Sao Paulo has banned smartphone owners from using the app for the next two days – with immediate effect.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw_XCxzrZSX-0Nf1AkvIn1VMtZ1_F1FjZNmRTrOfe8gu91_8u6WwHYyMNHKynZ_D6jvzTXYXfsnw13iuwpVYD-9Yo-zaOjTzv7oEQprLyBN6nQSlzGD0wU-hhf2KUKG6gGusgNLOdJvnE/s1600/WhatsApp+BAN-+Popular+smartphone+messenger+BLOCKED+for+48+hours+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp BAN: Popular smartphone messenger BLOCKED for 48 hours" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw_XCxzrZSX-0Nf1AkvIn1VMtZ1_F1FjZNmRTrOfe8gu91_8u6WwHYyMNHKynZ_D6jvzTXYXfsnw13iuwpVYD-9Yo-zaOjTzv7oEQprLyBN6nQSlzGD0wU-hhf2KUKG6gGusgNLOdJvnE/s640/WhatsApp+BAN-+Popular+smartphone+messenger+BLOCKED+for+48+hours+2.jpg" title="WhatsApp BAN: Popular smartphone messenger BLOCKED for 48 hours" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brazilian mobile operators have been told to block Facebook's popular messaging app</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Brazilian mobile operators have been told to block the hugely popular messaging app.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It appears the Country-wide WhatsApp ban has been ordered following a failure to comply with a July court order.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to reports, WhatsApp received a court order to release information relating to the case but refused to cooperate.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The company was notified again on August 7th, and this time warned they would be fined for failure to comply.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The ban is believed to be a punishment on the firm for once again refusing to release the information. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to a document obtained by <em>Gizmodo</em>, the request was first made by investigators from the Criminal Factions Combat Group, which suggests the case is related to serious organised crime such as drugs trafficking or pedophilia. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Speaking about the ban, Chief Executive of WhatsApp Jan Koum said: "We are disappointed in the short-sighted decision to cut off access to WhatsApp, a communication tool that so many Brazilians have come to depend on, and sad to see Brazil isolate itself from the rest of the world."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <section class="text-description">The country's phone companies have tried in the past to get the app blocked – stating its new free call calling feature undermines their own services.</section><section class="text-description">The 48-hour WhatsApp ban has already led to a thousands of complaints from users angry they can't access the app.</section><section class="text-description">And it's also causing a major headache for the Facebook owned service with rival app Telegram reportedly gaining one million new users in a single day.</section><section class="text-description">In fact, Telegram has seen such a surge in demand – it's struggling to keep up.</section><section class="text-description">WhatsApp has over 900 million users across the globe with over 93 million Brazilians using the service.</section><section class="text-description"><center> <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" style="border-image: none; border: currentColor; display: block; height: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;"></iframe><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-error" data-twitter-extracted-i1450453410486214995="true" lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en"> 1.500.000 and counting, SMS-Gateways overloading. Hang on, your codes are coming! We've got all hands on deck to accommodate the crazy load.</div> — Telegram Messenger (@telegram) <a href="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/677313217866125314">December 17, 2015</a></blockquote> </center> </section>

WhatsApp BAN: Popular smartphone messenger BLOCKED for 48 hours

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has been banned in Brazil for the next 48 hours   WHATSAPP has been banned for 48 hours – leaving 90 million ...

Read more »

ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFH_NBoi_ZTV8IbBW8qDBzzpWf_b0NC5-Enras2OA3G0gsK77SB539H2_yjHN67VK7EDkcb6p8B7ERyMcMeRY2jnEiuP27qPyayOp4zSocdBghyphenhyphenS0Oyqhe1RU52e8IUJ4a0P6niPY-mjO/s1600/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFH_NBoi_ZTV8IbBW8qDBzzpWf_b0NC5-Enras2OA3G0gsK77SB539H2_yjHN67VK7EDkcb6p8B7ERyMcMeRY2jnEiuP27qPyayOp4zSocdBghyphenhyphenS0Oyqhe1RU52e8IUJ4a0P6niPY-mjO/s640/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps.jpg" title="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Officials have named WhatsApp and Telegram amongst the apps linked to the Islamic State terrorists</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ISLAMIC STATE extremists plotted the terrorist attacks in Paris using WhatsApp and other encrypted apps, officials briefed on the investigation have revealed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Religious extremists linked to the attacks in Paris used encrypted apps to hide details of their plan, officials familiar with the ongoing investigation revealed to CNN.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This is the first time investigators have confirmed encrypted messaging apps were used to plot the devastating terror attacks.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Officials have named WhatsApp and Telegram amongst the apps linked to the Islamic State terrorists.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Both apps use end-to-end encryption to keep users' conversations, images, video and audio messages private. <a href="http://shr.gs/4GXqjID">Telegram has previously been linked with Islamic State activity</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> On the night of Friday November 13th, a series of co-ordinated terrorist attacks across Paris killed 130 people.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Gunmen – each fitted with a suicide vest – and affiliated with the so-called Islamic State, also referred to as ISIS or Daesh, targeted six different locations in the French capital city.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Amongst the targets was the Stade de France, where president Francois Hollande was watching the national team play a friendly match against Germany.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Terrorists also attacked restaurants, cafes and the Bataclan theatre, where rock band Eagles of Death Metal were performing to a sell-out crowd.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Some 368 people were injured in the gun and bomb attacks.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Officials had previously confirmed they had found encrypted apps installed on the mobile phones recovered from the crime scenes, but would not confirm whether the apps had been used to plan the attacks.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouJcgNu6X1j41JsWu19lhqPpgfTDtlwROFoTsLGsKhPzYVZOPxpWlBG4od8dc7IqW7FugfoPFR53sgEXMzjzOBEcmB18rAdkk5nwgjWTshBpF2JzwSacouZPQxbx4m3k3xScL-TDNpaau/s1600/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouJcgNu6X1j41JsWu19lhqPpgfTDtlwROFoTsLGsKhPzYVZOPxpWlBG4od8dc7IqW7FugfoPFR53sgEXMzjzOBEcmB18rAdkk5nwgjWTshBpF2JzwSacouZPQxbx4m3k3xScL-TDNpaau/s640/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+2.jpg" title="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13 people were killed, and another 368 were injured in the gun and bomb attacks</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOs3zEzQNgOYmLElHDCsV4VwQhnWh9LvDvCu4bVkeyd2S8EiPi9FNiIPE7puTjwndaw0PFOJoMEJD1ZXw6NkidS9ll8UdAfKDfBUmAwIQFcYRlc2hRa-vX7qRis8cK-75YHpTQwLVWtOL/s1600/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOs3zEzQNgOYmLElHDCsV4VwQhnWh9LvDvCu4bVkeyd2S8EiPi9FNiIPE7puTjwndaw0PFOJoMEJD1ZXw6NkidS9ll8UdAfKDfBUmAwIQFcYRlc2hRa-vX7qRis8cK-75YHpTQwLVWtOL/s640/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+3.jpg" title="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunmen – each fitted with a suicide vest – targeted six different locations in the French capital </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However those close to the investigation have now confirmed the terrorists used the encrypted messengers to communicate for a period before the attacks.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> What was said in those encrypted messages may never be known, the officials told CNN.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Earlier this year <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/whatsapp-ban-camerons-eu-referendum.html">Prime Minister David Cameron spoke out about the danger of allowing smartphone apps that use end-to-end encryption</a>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which we cannot read?” he asked. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "My answer to that question is: 'No, we must not’.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "We have always been able, on the authority of the Home Secretary, to sign a warrant and intercept a phone call, a mobile phone call or other media communications.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “But the question we must ask ourselves is whether, as technology develops, we are content to leave a safe space – a new means of communication – for terrorists to communicate with each other.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqGiM5z7SWWF-j1IWQ7g0vxT_AhzIQAbQaGwNYAmBwriEjDUCGDEAUeDwiS8qVne9WnciFeUwXz7tj3p_hl2-2YSN2xAEsZBSki8Y7jzcBxYojabsTu5xSpBilLeU_VJVF7rBMJZPWV8L/s1600/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqGiM5z7SWWF-j1IWQ7g0vxT_AhzIQAbQaGwNYAmBwriEjDUCGDEAUeDwiS8qVne9WnciFeUwXz7tj3p_hl2-2YSN2xAEsZBSki8Y7jzcBxYojabsTu5xSpBilLeU_VJVF7rBMJZPWV8L/s640/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+4.jpg" title="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrorists attacked restaurants, cafes and the Bataclan theatre </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYGk0CIZCm1sfiXqrATwAicPmT1hu7nli7zBZdHp73sW1ZfOgyx4cjVW2l4XKRDX9BOEtxhoJzBEMvV7mA7_6kzHvEEl0e9SOjKB6PbfT1o9jKX63wEBqMnYZYJADg1whAnNKH0iXr21m/s1600/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYGk0CIZCm1sfiXqrATwAicPmT1hu7nli7zBZdHp73sW1ZfOgyx4cjVW2l4XKRDX9BOEtxhoJzBEMvV7mA7_6kzHvEEl0e9SOjKB6PbfT1o9jKX63wEBqMnYZYJADg1whAnNKH0iXr21m/s640/ISIS+terrorists+planned+Paris+attacks+with+WhatsApp+and+other+encrypted+apps+5.jpg" title="ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Religious extremists used encrypted apps to hide details of their plans </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> British police currently <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/whatsapp-ban-mi5-boss-kickstarts.html">make a request to access personal metadata </a>– texts, emails, phone calls and internet searches – once every two minutes in the UK, according to data from campaign group Big Brother Watch.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Investigators are still hard at work trying to gather evidence of those involved in plotting the attacks.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A number of unencrypted communicated from one mobile phone used by the religious extremists were recovered, officials have confirmed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> However the attackers were conscious of surveillance and regularly changed the SIM cards in their phones to evade detection.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> FBI Director James Comey this week told a terrorism conference at New York Police Department headquarters that "the use of encryption is at the centre of terrorist trade craft."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A number of high profile technology firms increased the level of encrypted used in their products following the revelations on mass surveillance leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The news comes hours after <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/whatsapp-ban-camerons-eu-referendum.html">WhatsApp was banned across Brazil as a punishment </a>after it failed to comply with a court order to release encrypted information relating to a serious organised crime.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Under proposals in Theresa May's Investigatory Powers Bill – announced earlier this year in Parliament – communications firms will be legally required to help spies hack into suspects' smartphones and computers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Domestic providers will be obliged to assist intelligence agencies when they are given warrants to carry out equipment interference.</div> <ul> <li><div style="text-align: justify;"> <em>NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com</em> has reached out to WhatsApp and Telegram for this story</div> </li> </ul>

ISIS terrorists planned Paris attacks with WhatsApp and other encrypted apps

Officials have named WhatsApp and Telegram amongst the apps linked to the Islamic State terrorists   ISLAMIC STATE extremists plott...

Read more »

WhatsApp rival LINE messenger launches brand-new social network

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCJ-mWMQguF_Ig8uKAEnJir1CCU-0D45LTGw7NR1QA1r3Qt1ShSrRdRQyjAonde5jXsX888LOokgIjEXkyoKzUYig9A-ETejlxByT6_Gt365afa7DFopUS7i58crPcUP7rclZ0Fdkyrc/s1600/WhatsApp+rival+LINE+messenger+launches+brand-new+social+network.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp rival LINE messenger launches brand-new social network" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCJ-mWMQguF_Ig8uKAEnJir1CCU-0D45LTGw7NR1QA1r3Qt1ShSrRdRQyjAonde5jXsX888LOokgIjEXkyoKzUYig9A-ETejlxByT6_Gt365afa7DFopUS7i58crPcUP7rclZ0Fdkyrc/s640/WhatsApp+rival+LINE+messenger+launches+brand-new+social+network.jpg" title="WhatsApp rival LINE messenger launches brand-new social network" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LINE has launched a brand-new social network, dubbed Tale, which offers Reddit functionality </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> MESSAGING firm LINE has launched a new standalone app, which has nothing to do with stickers or VOIP calls.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cross-platform instant messenger LINE – which has an impressive 600 million active mobile users, some 200 million fewer than rival WhatsApp – has debuted a brand-new standalone social app called Tale.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The new social media platform is powered by hashtags and users can post text, photographs, links to online content or videos into different categories.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> These user-generated posts are then rated by up and down votes cast by fellow Tale users, in a similar model to Reddit.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Users can create a Tale account or log-in with Facebook to comment, up and down vote and post to the hashtag-filled categories.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At launch, the majority of the images and articles posted to the brand-new social network are memes and jokes, although that could well change as Tale evolves and develops over time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Tale is a new type of community that enables you to explore truly interesting content through the convenience of hashtags," the Google Play Store listing reads.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "It is a network of ideas where any and every type of content is welcome, from the bizarre to the hilarious to the inspirational.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxap04zCIcUkrr9XiuQmkG2T9MiNdvHlpOrP_nrOL1FWpcZisgaYkRpG3FECY-FSHQV9oYM3_4afa70wS3IFtjuKtndJBYZi_iFpD-wY4r35DCPIk1W5RK3BYGiB-JbeP3Zh4uu5hMQY4/s1600/WhatsApp+rival+LINE+messenger+launches+brand-new+social+network+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhatsApp rival LINE messenger launches brand-new social network" border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxap04zCIcUkrr9XiuQmkG2T9MiNdvHlpOrP_nrOL1FWpcZisgaYkRpG3FECY-FSHQV9oYM3_4afa70wS3IFtjuKtndJBYZi_iFpD-wY4r35DCPIk1W5RK3BYGiB-JbeP3Zh4uu5hMQY4/s640/WhatsApp+rival+LINE+messenger+launches+brand-new+social+network+2.jpg" title="WhatsApp rival LINE messenger launches brand-new social network" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tale allows users to post photos, text, hyperlinks and doodles which are then up and down voted </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Discover a vibrant community behind each of the trending hashtags displayed on the app’s main screen. When you submit content of your own, include up to three hashtags to help others locate your post. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "Unfiltered discussions, real-time hashtag rankings, and even a built-in photo and video editor."</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The new social news network is US-only for now, although the more markets are expected to be added soon.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Earlier this year,<em> NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com</em> compared WhatsApp against its closest rival LINE to see which was the better instant messenger</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Although both WhatsApp and LINE sport the ability to send text messages, photos, videos and voice calls over mobile data and wifi connections, LINE does have one major advantage.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Japanese app is free of charge.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> WhatsApp currently operates on a subscription plan of 69p per year – although the Facebook-owned app does offer one-year for free.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Rival messaging app Telegram offers similar functionality to WhatsApp for free, although <a href="http://newsnewsblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/whatsapp-stops-some-users-from-sending.html">WhatsApp has taken precautions to stop users promoting the rival messenger in texts</a>..</div>

WhatsApp rival LINE messenger launches brand-new social network

LINE has launched a brand-new social network, dubbed Tale, which offers Reddit functionality MESSAGING firm LINE has launched a new s...

Read more »