Geek Dashboard

How-To's, Smartphones, News and Reviews

  • Home
  • News
  • Smartphones
    • Android
    • iOS
  • Computers
    • Windows
    • macOS
  • Internet
  • Reviews
You are at Home » News

WhatsApp Alert: Your Chat Backups on Google Drive are not Encrypted

Last Updated on August 29, 2018 by Rahul Krishnan Leave a Comment

WhatsApp has gathered a massive amount of users within a short span of time. It is the wide popularity that attracted Mark Zuckerberg towards the platform. Ever since Facebook acquired the application, we have been seeing several major and minor features coming into it.

About a week ago, WhatsApp announced that the backup data will not be counted within the 15 GB free Google Drive quota. In the FAQ page, the company has clearly written that the end-to-end encryption is not available for backup data.

WhatsApp is Storing Unencrypted Backup Data on Google Drive

WhatsApp Google Drive Backups are not encrypted

We all know the importance of backups. Whenever our data goes into oblivion due to some strange reasons, we can recover the same within a blink. We have important conversations on WhatsApp that we are afraid to lose. If we take the backup, it will help us get the same chats even after losing the phone itself.

Google Drive has a 15 GB free data allowance. Means, users can store the data up to 15 GB without paying even a single penny. Earlier, they counted WhatsApp backup file data for this. However, the company announced on August 16 that we can store the backups without burning off the quota.

Now, the shocking revelation has surfaced on the web. WhatsApp itself has published it on their Frequently Asked Questions page. The company doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption for those backup files on the cloud.

You might have become familiar with the end-to-end encryption WhatsApp implemented years ago for the conversations. It simply means even the platform officials can’t read our messages. The only people who can read the conversations are the parties involved in messaging.

That doesn’t indicate our data is completely insecure. WhatsApp and Google have separate encryption methods to protect our data. However, we have to change the data from Facebook servers to Google servers. And, down the line, there is a chance for anyone to exploit our backups.

If you believe in strict privacy policies, you will have to think twice before backing up your WhatsApp chats. You must find an alternate way or just don’t do it at all. The second solution may not be feasible for those who fear to lose the data.

On the other hand, there is a new argument that the lack of end-to-end encryption allows the companies to share the data with the government in case of any national emergencies. We are not sure whether or not the tech giant will get ready for that.

The parent company, Facebook already went on the news due to the controversial Cambridge Analytica case. So, they have to stay out of such issues to be on the safe side.

#Backup#Google+#WhatsApp
Posted inNews

Spread the Word!

Avatar for Rahul Krishnan

Rahul Krishnan Facebook Twitter

Rahul Krishnan, a wordsmith from Kerala, India is always in lookout for his next article idea. He is a fanatic reader. And, the rumour is that his mom has recently hidden his debit card so that he can't buy books anymore. She doesn't know he has a spare one.

Related articles

News

Google is Going to Charge You for High-Speed WiFi in Railway Stations Soon

News

Google Decide to Wind Down Free Public Wi-Fi Program After Covering 400+ Railway Stations

Gstation
News

Google's #myAndroid Taste Test Helps You Personalize Your Home Screen according to Your Interests

there is a home screen for everyone

Comment Policy:

The comments section is aimed to help our readers in case of any questions or you can even appreciate us for our hard work. Every comment is strictly moderated before approving it.

Your name and comment will be visible to the public. Never share your personal information in the comments section.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Over 1,30,286+ Followers

Join to get latest updates from Geek Dashboard

Facebook Twitter Telegram Pinterest YouTube Instagram

Recently Published

  1. Tecno Spark Go (2023) Launched with MediaTek Helio A22 SoC and Dual Cameras in India

  2. Creating Social Media Visuals: 9 Tips, Tricks, and Tools

  3. Hum to Search: 5 Best Music Recognition Apps to Find a Song by Humming

  4. Fire-Boltt Talk Ultra With Bluetooth Calling and 123 Sport Modes Launched in India

  5. Wikolo Super App: Bringing Countless Benefits for Students

Geek Dashboard Placeholder

Download the apps and never miss a story from us

We put a lot effort and resources in writing our articles and we believe it is our responsibility to satisfy your tech hunger. We will keep you filled forever!

  • Get Geek Dashboard App from Google Play
  • Get Geek Dashboard App from Chrome Web Store
Geek Dashboard Logo

At Geek Dashboard, we are dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in technology news, reviews, and how-to guides. From smartphones to laptops, and everything in between, we've got you covered.

Got a Tip? Write In tip@geekdashboard.com

© 2012 - 2023 · Geek Dashboard, product of ikva eSolutions

Blog Advertise About Jobs Contact Privacy Policy Write For Us T&C Office Setup

No dogs were injured while working on this website because we love them