Spammers set their sights on WhatsApp – that's that ruined then Mobile spam is spreading from SMS channels towards mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, according to mobile security provider and specialist AdaptiveMobile. The company believes spammers have switched tactics over recent months in order to bypass existing mobile spam filters. App spam is particularly prevalent in mature …
No problem - if you think the worries about SMS spam are stupid, why don't you post your mobile number here? There are already a few operating on UK soil as SIMs can be bought anonymously here, although I have seen a few test cross-border use to further frustrate tracking.
I'm sure you will enjoy the learning experience.
How much of a problem is it? I must admit, having had a mobile phone since 1991, I haven't yet received a single SMS spam - well, apart from O2, but a call to them to explain that I didn't appreciate getting advertising SMS at 2 in the morning when I'm on call and the phone is next to my bed, stopped the messages.
I probably get a dozen or so SMS from my family during the month and that is it.
I think it isn't a problem yet because SMS still costs something. The moment its free I suspect you won't be able to use your phone anymore, because you're pretty much a captive audience. I also have the impression that phone companies pretty much stamp on people abusing an unlimited allowance, but I have no evidence of that other than the absence of crud.
I have had about 60 last year.
Normally I find SMS traffic stupidly overpriced for what it offers, but this is the one argument that makes that acceptable.
I'm surprised people still use WhatsApp, especially as you have to pay for it. I remember it being really popular 2-3 years ago, but it seems most people have moved over to the Facebook Messenger app now, and very few people I know still use it. (Especially after the redesign for both the Facebook app and the Messenger app). I personally like the Google Hangouts messenger app. One thing I do like about Facebook messenger is you can make a big snake of your friends faces by dragging the conversation bubbles around the screen.
>big snake of your friends faces
I suppose that might be mildly amusing... for a five year old, yet I still fear we haven't found the lowest common denominator.
I use whatsapp for the simple reason you don't need a facebook or google account and the associated overhead.
As for being free? I've been told you just have to ignore the payment request, can't be 100% sure as I haven't received any yet.
So the typical facebook/google/whatever else user wants to keep their telephone number secret (hahahaaaa.... sorry it's not that I don't believe they won't snarf your number) yet will pull their trousers down, bend over and let them get everything else. I think I'll let whatsapp have my telephone number.
Whatsapp: I can't begrudge them their quid. They have to eat too.
So when it becomes due I'll pay.
I don't see why anyone would say they think it's outdated. It's an IM system that works. It allows longer messages than SMS with pictures and stuff too. Without incurring MMS costs that are outside my contract.
Except for the types that think because there's a newer system on the market everyone has to jump ship.
Why isn't there a holding-head-in-hands icon?
Although receiving spam messages might be a pain unless it becomes massively wide spread it won't be that much of a problem since whatsapp has the ability to block contacts.
Although some phones allow you to block SMS messages from particular numbers SMS has the major flaw that it allows messages to be sent with the number replaced with arbitrary text preventing most devices from blocking them. Since whatsapp requires a number for use you should always be able to block unwanted senders.
As for the charge. If the above doesn't convince you the tiny fee is worth it, maybe it's not for you. Personally I find it worth it as I have international contacts and whatsapp messages are much much cheaper than international SMS messages.
If the above doesn't convince you the tiny fee is worth it, maybe it's not for you.
Indeed it isn't. I paid for Threema - roughly the same functionality, but secure and without the snooping and the copying of my entire address book to a US server under control by Facebook. I bought it for my son and it's now slowly spreading amongst his schoolmates as well.
I really cannot see why you should pay Zuckerberg on top of handing over details of your personal live and that of others. I rather spend that money on something I know to be solid and safe.
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