If you're using a custom ROM or rooted phone, your #WhatsApp messages won't be protected with end-to-end encryption.
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This reads more like a liability cop-out than an actual different implementation of WhatsApp on rooted phones and custom ROMs, right?
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I think this is a good take on the issue by
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Replying to @micahflee
It's being misinterpreted. They're saying that their end-to-end encryption won't be able to protect people on alternative OSes, because they roll back many security features, break core parts of the security model and rarely ship full security updates even when available.
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I know for a fact that it supports end-to-end encryption on alternative operating systems. They don't do anything to disable it. It's easy to check this, and not that hard to actually verify it at a deeper level. They're just washing their hands of supporting other OSes.
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I don't really disagree with alternative mobile operating systems being a security garbage fire more often than not but their generalization is lazy and harmful. The stock OS / firmware / hardware on most devices usually has trash security too but you don't see them mention that.
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They're just being lazy. They aren't going to make people feel insecure by pointing out that most mobile devices have trash security. If they warned people about having an out-of-date patch level, I'd be more sympathetic, because third party OSes generally lie about patch level.
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They aren't disabling end-to-end encryption on these operating systems. They're just trying to absolve themselves of having any responsibility to deal with it. If they started warning people about having explicitly insecure devices without even basic security updates, I'd get it.