Messaging News and Articles

Security The Web

Whistleblower warning: 2FA codes sent via SMS are trivially easy to intercept

Apps or physical authenticators are a better choice

By Shawn Knight, June 18, 2025, 10:12 AM 10 comments

Mobile Software

WhatsApp will start showing ads to users

Users who only need the chat feature won't see ads... for now

By Alfonso Maruccia, June 17, 2025, 9:13 AM

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WhatsApp is now available on iPad

WhatsApp has finally launched a dedicated version for iPads, featuring video and audio calls with up to 32 participants, iPadOS multitasking, and more. The app also supports the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil.

By Erik Orejuela, May 28, 2025, 10:37 AM

Security The Web

Hacker breaches TeleMessage system used by US officials, raising security concerns

The dangers of archiving encrypted messaging for compliance

By Skye Jacobs, May 5, 2025, 10:08 AM

The Web AI

Meta accused of allowing its chatbots to engage in sexually explicit chats

A Wall Street Journal investigation uncovers Meta AI bots' risky behavior with children

By Skye Jacobs, April 27, 2025, 7:13 AM

Software Industry

Discord co-founder steps down, new CEO appointed as IPO preparations ramp up

Discord will move forward under new leadership

By Shawn Knight, April 24, 2025, 12:12 PM

Security The Web

Signal defends itself after US military officials leak classified plans by mistake on group chat

The most secure messaging app - until someone invites a journalist

Facepalm: Signal likes to present itself as the most private and secure messaging service around, but the nonprofit likely didn't design the app for sharing classified plans regarding imminent military action. Yet earlier this month, senior US government and military officials did just that. Signal's president later defended the service amid renewed comparisons to WhatsApp.

Full story By Daniel Sims, March 25, 2025, 9:31 PM 35 comments

Security Mobile

FBI issues new alert over phishing SMS scam about unpaid road tolls

If they're asking for money, it's probably a "smishing" scam

By Alfonso Maruccia, March 25, 2025, 8:39 AM

Software The Web

Microsoft is killing off Skype after years of decline

The end of a VoIP pioneer

By Kishalaya Kundu, February 28, 2025, 9:01 AM 19 comments

Software Tech Culture

Discord now runs on Windows 98 (and even Windows 95) with this unofficial client

A retro-friendly version of Discord for machines with slower hardware

By Shawn Knight, February 3, 2025, 2:04 PM

Trivia Mobile

When was the first SMS text message sent?

Software architect used a computer to text "Merry Christmas"

By TechSpot Trivia, December 9, 2024, 6:49 AM

Security Mobile

FBI shifts stance, recommends encryption to keep phone chats private

Cyber-criminals abroad have done a lot of damage to the security psyche

By Alfonso Maruccia, December 5, 2024, 11:48 AM 10 comments

Mobile Security

Authorities bust multi-million message SMS fraud and 730 million call VoIP scam in Thailand

The scale and technological sophistication of the scam is staggering

By Skye Jacobs, November 26, 2024, 6:59 AM

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Signal Messenger introduces reusable call links

Signal's new call links eliminate the need to create groups beforehand. Instead, users can simply generate a link that can be shared. These links are reusable, and group calls can accommodate up to 50 people.

By Erik Orejuela, November 12, 2024, 11:37 AM

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Telegram desktop app is now available for Windows on Arm

Telegram has released its first official build for Arm-based PCs. This new Windows version also resolves issues with video playback cutoffs caused by recompression and enhances video message recording on macOS.

By Erik Orejuela, November 8, 2024, 6:42 AM

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You can now save your contacts directly to WhatsApp

WhatsApp is making changes so you can now save contacts directly to your WhatsApp account, independent of the phone's contact book. This could simplify phone migration and backups as well as messaging contact management to an extent.

By Erik Orejuela, October 23, 2024, 1:09 PM

Security Software

WeChat modified TLS encryption protocol exposes users to security risks

Its security falls short of the cryptographic standards expected for an app of WeChat's size, researchers say

By Skye Jacobs, October 20, 2024, 11:08 AM

Security The Web

International law enforcement shuts down cybercrime communication platform Ghost

A major blow to digitally-adapted organized crime

By Alfonso Maruccia, September 19, 2024, 1:57 PM

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Discord introduces passwordless logins, end-to-end encryption for calls

Discord is introducing passwordless login through biometric passkeys, such as Face ID and Touch ID. Also, Discord is migrating audio and video calls (but not text messaging) to a new system that features end-to-end encryption by default.

By Ivan Franco, September 18, 2024, 12:36 PM

Software Industry

Meta to enable WhatsApp and Messenger interoperability with iMessage, Telegram, and more in the EU

Reactions, message replies, and read receipts are part of the package

By Zo Ahmed, September 7, 2024, 2:57 PM

Software Microsoft

Microsoft removes ads from Skype to improve user experience

Haven't most people moved on to other platforms already?

By Skye Jacobs, August 1, 2024, 8:34 AM

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WhatsApp adds screen sharing, more participants on video calls

WhatsApp is introducing new features on mobile and desktop apps, including screen sharing functionality, support for up to 32 people on video calls, and the MLow codec to improve call reliability and clarity.

By Ivan Franco, June 13, 2024, 4:54 PM