WhatsApp Beta Rolls Out Encryption For Cloud Backups

While WhatsApp already implements end-to-end encryption for chats since 2014, it appears that the privacy feature will soon be extended to cloud backups as well. WABetaInfo reports that the Facebook-owned private messaging platform is finally testing encrypted backups in the latest beta version on its app, months after it was first discovered in March this year.

Beta users who choose to opt-in will have all their chat backups encrypted, whether it’s to Google Drive or Apple iCloud. By doing so, its worth noting that WhatsApp will prompt you to create a separate password to restore the backups. Alternatively, you can also rely on a generated 64-digit encryption key, which you’ll have to safely keep somewhere. According to WABetaInfo, neither of these security measurements will be shared with WhatsApp, Facebook, Google or Apple.

Much like anything else that are password protected, losing your password or the aforementioned encryption key will result in the backups to be locked away permanently. Nevertheless, those willing to take the risk will be assured that their chat history will be safe from prying eyes, even if law enforcement compels cloud service providers to provide access to your cloud backups.

The introduction of encrypted chat backup arrives just in time with WhatsApp’s upcoming rollout for its multi-device support, which allows users to use the app independently from their main phone. So far, there’s been no news yet on when exactly either of these features will be released to the general public. But when they do, using the versatile platform will be easier and more secure than ever.

Cloud Mining Company Wins Chinese Court Case; Regains More Than 485000 AMD Radeon GPUs

Genesis Mining, An Iceland-based cloud mining outfit, recently won a lawsuit in a Chinese court, against a Chinese hosting provider, Chuangshiji Technology Limited. By decree of China’s Supreme Court, the defendant was ordered to return the Radeon RX 470 8GB GPUs it seized from Genesis Mining and by all, we mean all 485681 units.

Genesis Mining’s legal woes began in 2018, when it took Chuangshiji Technology Limited to court, over multiple monetary issues with the latter. The lawsuit, which stretched over a span of several years, was filed in 2019, after the defendant began withholding said RX 470 GPUs, presumably purchased by Genesis Mining. The Genesis lawsuit specifically demanded that Chuangjishi hand over more than 560000 GPUs, along with 60000 ASIC miners after the company terminated its agreement with the company.

Naturally, things didn’t go according to plan for Genesis; Chuangjishi refused to comply and instead, began selling its ill-gotten gains, all without Genesis’ consent.

Sadly, Genesis’ victory in the Chinese court is a Pyrrhic one; while the Icelandic cloud-based mining company may have won back its nearly half a million RX 470 GPUs, China’s recent crackdown on cryptominers and their farms means that the company will have to consider two alternatives: shift its operations out of China and into a country where cryptomining isn’t banned or find new homes for them, the latter being an arduous task, given the age of the RX 470 and its GPU core.

That said, selling them to actual gamers might actually net Genesis a tidy profit, especially given the ongoing chip and GPU shortage that is happening around the world.