Hackers' Pub

Syntax	Description	Examples
`"` keyword `"`	Finds the string within quotes, including spaces. Case-insensitive. (Escape quotes inside with `\"`)	`"Hackers' Pub"`
`from:` handle	Finds content written by the specified user.	`from:hongminhee` `from:hongminhee@hollo.social`
`lang:` ISO 639-1	Finds content written in the specified language.	`lang:en`
`#` tag	Finds content with the specified tag. Case-insensitive.	`#HackersPub`
condition condition	Finds content that satisfies both conditions on either side of the space (logical AND).	`"Hackers' Pub" lang:en`
condition `OR` condition	Finds content that satisfies at least one of the conditions on either side of the OR operator (logical OR).	`#HackersPub OR "Hackers' Pub" lang:en`
`(` condition `)`	Combines the operators within the parentheses first.	`(#HackersPub OR "Hackers' Pub" OR "Hackers Pub") lang:en`

mcc @mcc@mastodon.social

9/11/2025, 8:26:17 PM

Public

Question.

One reason I'd sometimes recommend Signal over WhatsApp is my understanding is WhatsApp leaves the contact list visible to "Meta" (or possibly simply shared the contact list with other "Meta" services like Facebook?) whereas Signal had this complicated e2e backup for the contact list. This article:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/whatsapp-now-encrypts-contact-databases-for-privacy-preserving-synching/

Claims WhatsApp now encrypts the contact list as well. Is this true? Is it on for all users or something you have to enable? What about importing contacts from FB?

WhatsApp now encrypts contact databases for privacy-preserving synching

The WhatsApp messenger platform has introduced Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS), a new privacy-preserving encrypted storage system designed for contact management.

www.bleepingcomputer.com · BleepingComputer

If you have a fediverse account, you can quote this note from your own instance. Search https://mastodon.social/users/mcc/statuses/115187540148613583 on your instance and quote it. (Note that quoting is not supported in Mastodon.)