A recent article in the Kansas City Star, revealed that politicians are allegedly using a messaging app that deletes messages after they have been read.
The article claims that Governor Eric Greitens and his staff used the ‘Confide’ app to hide text messages from the public.
“Gov. Eric Greitens and his senior staff use an app that deletes text messages after they’ve been read, raising concerns among transparency advocates that it could be used to subvert Missouri open records law.”
‘Confide’ claims they encrypt all messages, which then vanish without a trace once they have been opened.
The ‘Confide’ app also claims to prevent people from taking screenshots on most platforms and the ‘Confide Plus‘ app allows the sender to retract any unread messages.
A number of other apps like Signal and Whatsapp also that claim to encrypt all messages.
Can self-destructing apps keep Big Brother from spying om you?
An article in Private Internet Access warns that self-destructing apps are only meant to protect the message, video or picture from being viewed by someone else.
Law enforcement has numerous ways to view so-called, self-destructing messages.
For years, law enforcement has been using Stingrays, Kingfish and other devices that mimic cell phone towers, allowing them to intercept everything without a warrant.
Take the following scenario from Private Internet Access:
An article in Appthority, warns that using Siri to send messages, means Apple is storing everything you sent for up to two years.
Appthority also warns, that self-destructing apps have a long way to go to fully prevent Big Brother from spying on everyone’s messages. (To find out more about security issues with self-destructing apps, click here & here.)
For years now, the NSA has been recording and storing 80% of all communications in the US. A recent UK Guardian article warns, that the NSA will soon be able to collect 966 exabytes of information a year!
Basically, the rule of thumb is, don’t count on self-destructing apps to hide anything from law enforcement. One should, always assume Big Brother has found a way to read everything, even if is encrypted.
https://massprivatei.blogspot.com/2017/12/do-self-destructing-apps-keep-big.html
The fourth article of the Bill of Rights should prevent us from ever needing this software, but of course, our criminal politicians can’t function without it. (although it’s probably illegal for them to use it in any official capacity)
“Confide messages self-destruct. After they are read once, they are gone.”
It doesn’t explain how the message knows whether or not it’s been read, so I guess you have a time limit.
Trust it like a politician