this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2023
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Privacy
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They install malware on your device, if your device is susceptible. They don't require backdoors or anything like that. They'll have to hack your device first, which you can usually prevent if you keep your OS up to date and make smart choices about the links you click on.
Things like the iMessage exploits governments used before are harder to prevent because Apple is exposing a lot of complicated functionality in their background messaging app, but if you have an iPhone you can default such malware by occasionally rebooting your device.
The chat app was actually infiltrated by the police for ages, I doubt the French police will be able to do that to any reputable chat service without causing a massive shit storm. They also pushed uodates that uploaded the keys back to them (the chats themselves were securely encrypted).
Ok, so I guess the risk is not really big if you use common sense and use some digital hygiene. The bigger OS exploits can't really be protected against anyway as an end-user...