Safer Internet: Talk and Chat Privately

Summary |
References: General | Clubhouse | Facetime |
Google: Meet, etc. | iOS, Messages | Messenger | macOS | Phone | Robocalls | Signal |
Skype, Teams | Slack | Telegram | Webex | WhatsApp | Yik Yak | Zoom


Summary

  • "I sold my users' privacy...
  • [1] Check preferences -- do not assume default settings are the most secure
  • [1] Read the privacy policies of (and articles about) services you use:
    what they log, share or encrypt, especially 'free' services
    (and especially Google and Facebook)
  • Text messaging, audio, video apps can be more secure than email.
  • Messages and Facetime (for Apple users) are generally very private and quite secure.
  • webcampractice olliZoom (like other meeting services) can be very private and secure, even the free version --
  • if problems are quickly fixed -- and users install updates
  • if privacy & security preferences are provided and explained -- and checked! e.g.,
  • user: strong unique account password; enable 2FA if avail; minimize user profile info;
    click only on expected meeting links; etc.
  • host: keep meeting ID private; set meeting room password; use waiting rooms to admit participants; route calls outside China; etc.
  • Zoom (or any communication) app may be more secure/private on iOS compared to Mac or Windows.
  • Zoom's free version doesn't have ads or market your info (like some other products)
    -- it's offered as 'trialware', with the hope that you'll upgrade to bypass limits (e.g., session length) and access other features.
  • In its early years, Zoom was slow to acknowledge & address problems; it has made substantial progress in recent months.
  • Refs:Zoom (articles -- below); Strong Passwords: Zoom 'credential stuffing' explanation
  • [1] Create a 2nd entry in Contacts with minimal info about you: name, phone, email;
    share that with others who shouldn't have all your info!
  • [1] Enable sending unknown phone callers (not in your contacts) directly to voicemail, e.g.,
  • iOS: Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers
  • [2] Install software to block robocalls
  • [2] Use less common apps to improve privacy (and to avoid government monitoring?)
  • [2] Consider using video (ideally) or audio instead of any text -- more difficult to capture and analyze
  • [3] Secure phones

References

Android; Allo

Clubhouse

Facebook Messenger

Facetime

Google: Meet, etc.

iOS; Messages; Facetime

macOS

Phone

Robocalls

Signal

Skype, Teams

Slack

  • All the Ways Slack Tracks You -- and How to Stop It e.g., changing privacy settings, putting limits on those infuriating notifications; Wired; 10/29/2020
  • What if All Your Slack Chats Were Leaked? Slack stores everything you do on its platform by default -- your username and password, every message you've sent, every lunch you've planned and every confidential decision you've made. That data is not end-to-end encrypted -- accessible by Slack, law enforcement, hackers; NYT; 7/1/2019

Telegram

Webex

WhatsApp

Yik Yak

Zoom