Hi all, I have a 7 a as well as a Pixel Tablet. I have installed WhatsApp on the 7a and want to also have it on the tablet. WhatsApp has an easy way through the browser by scanning the QR code and linking your phone with the tablet using the WhatsApp Web.
Question: Does this create security problems? Does using WhatsApp Web with Vanadium expose my information or is it still encrypted? Does this link my identity or?
Perhaps there is a more secure way to have WhatsApp on both devices?
As a few posters have said, I am not overly technical and some answers go over my head.
Thanks for your consideration of this topic and answers that someone may have.
WhatsApp and WhatsApp Web - 2 devices
Anyone tried this or have advice?
roygilbo Perhaps there is a more secure way to have WhatsApp on both devices?
I use a Galaxy Tab S8 along with my GrapheneOS Pixel 8, and I just use the WhatsApp app on my Tab S8. I assume installing the official app would be the most secure method, although the WhatsApp Web method would more likely be the more private method.
Does this create security problems? Does using WhatsApp Web with Vanadium expose my information or is it still encrypted? Does this link my identity or?
Your identities will of course be linked across your phone and your tablet, as you will be linking the two devices under the same account. You will presumably be giving less access with the WhatsApp Web method versus. the app install method that constantly stays active on your device. The content of your messages will be end-to-end encrypted, but the metadata of your messages will be collected by Meta, regardless of if you use the app or the web version.
Its a choice really between convenience and privacy. Whatsapp is convenient because so many people use it, but will never be private as that wont pay them back the billions they spent buying it. As Vagabond said the metadata is the main problem (who your contacting/how often you contact them/when you contacted them etc
GrapheneOS can help you as much as it can with things like contact scopes / storage scopes / strict permissions etc / allowing you to use it on separate profile, but it cant stop the above. Even with contact scopes, if your using one main number they will almost certainly already have it from your contacts uploading it to them.
It is not the worst way of messaging by any means but its up to the individual if they want it installed on their device. Im sure plenty on here use it and its much better than using SMS!
if you want to install/use Whatsapp I wouldn't worry about about identities ( Meta tracks everything ) , I'd pay attention to your devices security specs. When it comes to your mobile device I'm quite sure decryption key is almost impossible to extract ( assuming you use a newer device ) , but I'm not confident that is true for any linked device. The key must be stored / transported somehow to make sure you decrypt the messages everywhere , imo it gets riskier with any additional device. I'm not even sure other messaging Apps work better than WhatsApp in that regard. According with people familiar with the matter , Signal , , for example , stores the decryption key in cleartext on your Windows machine.
give me a little bit of time and I'll get you there.