Whatsapp vs Webrtc
A few days ago, it was announced that senior UN officials are no longer allowed to use the Whatsapp application to exchange messages with other UN members. This is due to the fact that this app is considered to be a tool that does not guarantee the security of communications.
Indeed, cases of hacking of mobile phones belonging to senior officials or members of large companies via Whatsapp have made the application a low-security tool for certain types of use. It is therefore essential to look for new ways to ensure the security of professional communications.
Examples of the mobile phone hackings include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos being hacked via WhatsApp in 2018. Moreover, in 2019, a flaw in WhatsApp led to 1,400 hacks.
The security of communications is one of today’s top corporate concerns. Companies are looking for alternative solutions that allow them to communicate internally and guarantee the total security of their communications. WebRTC technology, for example, is one of the best ways to guarantee that security.
Whatsapp vs WebRTC: why is WhatsApp a low-security means of communication for businesses?
WhatsApp is the most popular smartphone messaging application available today. This, coupled with the fact that it is a free app, makes it a target for hackers looking to obtain relevant information from public figures or large corporations.
Furthermore, this communication tool is very easy to use: all you have to do is install the application, and insert your phone number to start calling or messaging your family, friends, colleagues, clients, etc. The app is entirely free of charge and advertising.
The owner of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, who bought Whatsapp in 2014, says that the application is free thanks to its low maintenance cost, and that it takes only 55 people out of a group of several thousand companies to maintain the tool used by more than a billion people worldwide.
However, Whatsapp’s vulnerability during its years of existence has led cybersecurity experts to the conclusion that although we don’t pay money to use it, we sell all our information and are exposed to hacking into our private conversations.
That’s why many companies have banned the use of the application in the workplace and among their employees.
What danger do apps represent for the security of corporate communication?
Whatsapp is not the only app that is not secure. Today, most providers who offer external and internal communication services to companies require applications to be downloaded on mobile phones or desktops in order to communicate. This is the case with softphones, for example.
However, the security problem with Whatsapp, as with any application, starts when the device does not have the latest version of the operating system. In this case, the probability of a cyber attack is much higher.
Encrypted communications using WebRTC technology
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a technology developed by Google which, in addition to replacing the SIP protocol, allows you to create voice and video connections, as well as share files through the browser, without the need to install anything and with the only condition of having an Internet connection.
The fact that these communications can be maintained without installing any software or hardware leaves aside the vulnerability problems caused by the lack of updates to the tool or the operating system of the device from which it is used.
At Fonvirtual, we have developed a WebRTC virtual PBX which, in addition to protecting external communications with clients, allows you to maintain confidential internal communications with other members of your company.
As a result, communications using Fonvirtual’s PBX are encrypted to protect all data and files that are shared, either by call or by internal chat, and that circulate via the Internet.
From now on, you can communicate professionally on your computer, your mobile phone or your tablet, wherever you are.
The virtual PBX includes numerous features including:
- Encrypted external and internal communications
- Integration with your CRM software, Helpdesk or Google Data Studio
- Secure over the phone card payment service.
Whatsapp vs Webrtc: Recommendations for maintaining company communications secure
Finally, here are our recommendations to maintain the security of your corporate communications:
- Use work tools and personal tools separately…
- Avoid the use of popular tools, such as Whatsapp or Facebook, for business-related communications
- Minimize the use of business communication apps and opt for technologies that enable web-based communication, such as WebRTC technology.
- Regularly update your applications and devices
As Apple states in its latest TV commercial, “Today we have more information stored onto the devices that we use than we do at home or in the office”.
It is therefore essential to protect the communication tools we use and to choose the most appropriate ones to maintain security and thus avoid possible attacks that could undermine our security.
