The Creator of Telegram messenger Pavel Durov called WhatsApp application unsafe.
He recalled a recently discovered vulnerability that allowed hackers and government intelligence agencies to access user data.
"WhatsApp not only does not protect your messages, but this app is also constantly being used as a Trojan to track photos and messages unrelated to Messenger," wrote he on the Telegram channel.
According to Durov, the problem lies in the policy of Facebook, which owns WhatsApp.
Durov noted that his Telegram messenger did not encounter such vulnerabilities in six years of existence. At the same time, he doubted that WhatsApp makes mistakes in the security system due to system imperfections.
"It is very unlikely that someone can accidentally allow serious security failures, such convenient for surveillance, on a regular basis," said he.Therefore, Durov urged users to delete WhatsApp.
In addition, Durov claimed that WhatsApp, like Facebook, shared user information with almost everyone who claimed to be working for the government.
The words of the Creator of Telegram were commented by experts. Thus, the CEO of Digital platforms Arseny Shcheltsin noted that any messenger, including Telegram, has access to the files of the smartphone.
"Does the messenger use this data for its work? It's hard to say," said he.According to Shcheltsin, WhatsApp is trying to demonstrate its usefulness to investors and recoup millions of dollars in costs. And Mark Zuckerberg can consider data collection is an excellent format for the best advertising targeting.
Arseniy Poyarkov, a member of the State Duma’s expert council on the digital economy, advised users of Messengers to prepare in advance for the fact that their personal data can become available to anyone.
According to him, data leaks are almost always associated with careless actions of the user himself.
"Observing information hygiene: using VPN, foreign secure messengers, regularly deleting correspondence and unnecessary photos - you can feel safe with a high degree of confidence," concluded Poyarkov.
