The Government decides not to investigate the security of WhatsApp data
That the privacy and security of communications are issues that concern users is something that does not escape anyone. And it is that when an application with more than 500 million users worldwide proves to have vulnerabilities , more than one gets their hair on end. That is why, in Spain, the political group UPyD requested the Government the study of security of WhatsAppand other communication applications to find out if they really defend the minimum security guaranteesSomething to which the Executive has refused.
Following the aforementioned petition in the Congress of Deputies, the Government has responded to UPyD with a letter with which rules out requesting an investigation of the WhatsApp application to the Spanish Data Protection Agency An examination that would determine if it is a secure and private communication toolfor the use of Spanish citizens. But the Government has its own reasons for refusing this analysis.
According to the document, the Government of Spain believes that both WhatsApp like the rest of similar messaging applications, respect current regulations Thus, adhering to the laws, it could be said that they are communication toolssecure and privateTherefore, an investigation would not be necessary to find out the security of the data that is shared through WhatsAppand many more applications currently available for smartphones
In addition, he adds, the Data Protection Agency has a role supervisor In this way, and in the event of any anomaly in the operation and service of these applications, it could start their own procedures to examine the security of WhatsApp, for example. Reasons that have led them not to investigate these messaging applications, despite the constant news about vulnerabilities and problems discovered. Issues that, on the other hand, have never meant a massive attack for users.
This issue about the study of the security of an application by state agencies is not new. In fact, in Germany the government has even recommended that its citizens abandon the use of the WhatsApp application And, in his case, the Privacy Regulation Office, has investigated the data security of this application, finding notable vulnerabilities and issues that led to this announcement. Issues that can become alarming from the mouths of these organizations.
The WhatsApp application has never stood out as the most secure communication tool on the market. There are many cases of problems in which third parties can be obtained with data such as the location or including information of the messages exchanged.Of course, for this it is necessary to have the necessary tools and knowledge, always taking advantage of a WiFi connection to which both the victim and the cybercriminal, you must connect. Not too probable situations and that from WhatsApp they try to avoid with new security updates To these Possible problems must be added to the purchase of the tool by Facebook, whose privacy policies and studies of user habits have raised many blisters. A fame that has even led politicians to want to investigate this application.
