WeChat is one of the most popular messaging apps around the world, which is actually a Chinese messenger, and many of its users are Chinese. This messenger has been used by many users due to a number of functional and interesting features. One of the most important discussions that comes with these different opinions these days, is the discussion about WeChat security that everyone has a different opinion on the subject. In what follows, we are going to talk about the subject of WeChat security issues and have a special review on that.
How much secure is WeChat?
If we go to WeChat official website and go to the FAQ section of the website, we will encounter with similar questions in the field of WeChat security . Many people asked about the WeChat security and how much they can trust on WeChat, that WeChat has given them all the same answer. In response to these questions, the WeChat designers have said:
WeChat create a safe route of communication and encrypt messages between the sender and receiver through it’s own servers. So the individuals who are not in the communication, are not able to receive or sniff other messages and the only thing they get, a series of encrypted messages. When all the recipients, recieve own messages, the messages will deleted from server memory and thus, even WeChat is not able to use the content of messages, both text and multimedia.
The WeChat security guaranteed by client to server and server to client encryption protocol.
If you are one of the WeChat active users, you may have noticed that when you plan to connect from another device to your account, part of your information that relates to your messages is not displayed first on the new device, and your messages will be displayed in the second login. Many people are will to know why this is happening and can this means that WeChat has access to all of our messages?
You should keep in mind that this is a security issue and it is a part of one of WeChat security features. This feature actually ensures that the third party is not able to receive your messages. In fact, when a third party uses your username and password to login to your account, nothing is displayed to him and can only get basic information, such as your contacts, and in no way to the message. Your access will not be available. This feature is in fact a barrier to unauthorized access to information that is also can prevent even WeChat staff can’t logging into your account with the new device and stealing your information.
Is WeChat using of crypto messages?
One of the main concerns of messaging applications users, is the ability to encrypt messages. Today’s messaging apps, which does not support messages encryption, doesn’t really attractive up for mobile and messenger users, and it’s will not successful in attracting the audience. In fact, message encryption is one of the most important parts that ensures users’ security in the messaging environment. In WeChat security context, it is true that the End-to-End encryption, does not use in WeChat and this application doesn’t support this type of encryption to receive and send messages. But this does not mean that there is no encrypted messaging protocol, and we need to keep in mind that in WeChat, instead of using end to end encryption, a client to server and server to client cryptography is applied.
WeChat encryption is such that messages are initially encrypted from the sender, with the server public key, and will send to the server. The server will decrypt the message using its private key and after identifying the message recipient, the message is encrypted using the recipient’s public key and will send to the recipient. At the destination, the receiver will decrypt the received message by using his private key and will access to the content of the message the sender sends to him. This kind of encryption gives us the guarantee that our information will not be accessible in the rout and that the third party will not be able to hack WeChat.
WeChat has the security licenses!
Of course, it should be noted that almost all messaging applications except a few messengers, use this encryption method to ensure the security of your data, and only apps like Whatsapp and Signal and Telegram secret chat, use from End to End encryption method. Of course, if Whatsapp uses this type of encryption for messages, there is still a doubt, because if everything is really End to End, if you delete Whatsapp account, there should be no way to recover the messages. It’s possible on the Whatsapp and using the server itself, you can sometimes recover all deleted data! However, in the field of cryptography, it should be noted that WeChat, like other applications, uses a client-to-server cryptography, and by no means does not mean that WeChat does not have any encryption and WeChat security is very low!
The rumors about WeChat security
Many people believe that WeChat is a government application in China, and all information exchanged by this app, for Chinese government accessible. The fact is that in only a few applications that support end to end encryption, we can pretty much ensure that nobody gets access to our information and in all other cases, everyone has access to the server, can easily access all messages as well. Telegram, Viber, Line, Skype, and many others also use this protocol, and if anyone can access to the server, it certainly will access to all other messages.
WeChat is the only messaging application in the world that has both TRUSTe privacy certificate. The Wechat security has also been confirmed by the ISO 270001 International Security Organization, which means that hacking this program will not be easy for hackers. But this does not mean that the app can go beyond the strict Chinese rules. There are a lot of rumors about the Chinese government’s limitless access to the WeChat messages that compromised the WeChat security , which has raised concerns for users.
Many people are not using the WeChat because of the possibility of Chinese government interference in their database.
The permission list of Wechat, when you install it on a mobile phone, accesses such as access to search information, profile views, contact details, etc., is another reason for concern in Wechat security , that has made many users more cautious about using this app, and are skeptical about downloading WeChat.