With all the debate around #WhatsApp and the appeal to move to Signal, I spent some time reading about the two.
Here's why I've decided to not make the switch:🧵
1. Why the sudden fuss?
If you're using an app that uses a Facebook SDK (most of them do), chances are a lot more information is already being shared. WhatsApp is just another one to enter the game.
If you're still going to use #Instagram, Facebook or Messenger, this switch literally means nothing. Insta DMs are not even encrypted. A lot more data continues to be swooped on. I would be more concerned about these than WhatsApp, which is E2E encrypted.
If this is the case, I should be as concerned about Signal's encryption as I am for WhatsApp's.
Further, as social media, the app focuses on my public interactions. My social circle keeps changing. Things are already scary when it comes to privacy regarding my personal habits
3. A lost game
At this point, I should be more concerned about Google than FB. To enlist a few, Google knows about where I go, what I search, whom I contact, what I watch, and how I write. Compare this to what the new WhatsApp terms ask you for. We've already lost the game.
With Google assistant being active by default, your voice is being processed all the time. How do you think the model differentiates your "Ok Google" from other speech? To make things worse, a group of humans has access to these voice recordings.
Might seem obvious, but WhatsApp is a business, here to earn money. We aren't paying them since forever. The cost is letting them derive and share insights from our data to businesses. I personally don't mind it as opposed to having to pay them say 2000 rs/yr.
To sum up, I'm already sharing more than what is expected. This outcry should had happened long ago. However I'll continue to take these precautions:
- Not backing chats on Google Drive
- Not using their UPI
- Exercising all available privacy options
Coming to Signal, it has its own set of issues to be addressed.
Same encryption algo, can also access my contacts. Poor UI/UX, limited features. Signal has started as non profit. If they change their terms 2 yrs later, where do we go next?
During BLM protests in US, protestors used Signal to carry operations while evading legal authorities.
If something like this happens in India (Kashmir, terrorism, naxals etc.), Modi won't think twice before banning the app citing rightful national security issues. Where next?
I prefer to demand a common standard privacy policy law than demand new apps.
Unless you have stopped using the other ones, ask yourself: Are you really concerned about privacy or are you concerned about people expecting you to be concerned about privacy? n/n
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10 good thoughts that really helped me grow in 2020.
A thread:
1. Not arguing with people who aren't really close to you
Often we come across near strangers who have a contrary view point than ours on a given topic. Instead of responding to their negative actions, let go. You may feel a strong urge to respond but let go.
Just doing this will cut off more than half the toxic stuff in daily life. Instead of spending time arguing and convincing them, just give an implicit "Ok, as you say" and move on.
They may feel that they won the sprint, you'll soon realize that you won the marathon.
THREAD: It is important to know the concept of money vs wealth.
Money: What you earn for the work you did. An effort-based return.
Wealth: One that earns for you even while you are asleep. An asset.
Time to think, are we spending more time earning money, or building wealth?
Being good only at programming may not help you become powerful in the longer run. A good business understanding and creativity is equally important. Knowing not just how to code, but also why to code.
An SDE earns money by building wealth for the CEO.
One can start slow, earn while learning how to build wealth. But important to not become so constrained in skills and outlook that you never take the leap.
As they say in chess, it's okay to start as pawn, but keep moving until you don't promote yourself to a queen.
Unpopular opinion: I'm not really appealed by the idea of WhiteHat Jr., atleast not till coding becomes a part of our curriculum. This will only put extra load on a budding childhood, which is already being taken away slowly due to heavy expectations from a kid in today's world.
It should be ok if your child cannot develop their own app. Childhood is the time to read, play, dance, explore interests, not to restrict oneself to a 13" screen developing apps, esp. cos that's what will make them "The Next Elon Musk".Promote logic building & aptitude,not this.
I never knew about Ubuntu or coding until first day at college. Scored horribly initially. Felt lost. 4 yrs later, I can now code in 25+ frameworks, have worked with IITB and ISRO, & have presented research at A+ conferences. What helped?:Logic, dedication & willingness to learn.