For the longest time Whatsapp has been the primary mode of communication for millions of people. It offers a seamless and a hassle free option of video calling as well, along with numerous privacy options but recently there has been a lot of chatter about security and how your chats are not entirely private. Elon Musk saw an opportunity and introduces a competitor Whatsapp; XChat. New iOS app that offers encrypted messaging, video calls, and file sharing as X expands beyond its “everything app” vision.
According to Elon Musk XChat is the only secure, encrypted messaging bu encryption experts have a differing opinion. They expressed cautious skepticism about XChat’s execution and defended other communication platforms, like Signal, as solid choices.
One of the most obvious red flag of the platform is the requirement that users have to connect to an existing X account in order to log in and begin messaging, it is one of XChat’s warning signs. Maria Villegas Bravo, counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, says,
“I’m a little suspicious of that, because the more data points you connect about a person, the more you can track what they’re doing.”
Bravo finds Musk’s previous attacks on rival applications concerning and self-serving.
While Musk spent a great deal on criticizing and comparing other social for messaging apps like Signal, Whatsapp, telegram and Imessege, on security issues but he neglected the fact that Xchat can also have potential security risks, considering it is still an untested and a new territory for big claims.
The app offers users a dedicated space for private messaging, file sharing, and audio and video calls with X contacts. The app offer multiple useful features such as disappearing messages, message editing and screenshot blocking
Chat with anyone on X in a private, focused space built for conversation. No ads. No tracking. Fully end-to-end encrypted. Sign in with your X account and everyone is already there. Friends, family, creators, colleagues.
Elon Musk Late Launched XChat
The announced date by Xchat’s team was rescheduled multiple times and people are wondering why. The initial release date was 17th April, this was the launch date listed on Apple’s App Store page. But it changed to 23rd April, then 24th April. The app also showed April 25 and April 27 as potential launch dates, before it dropped unexpectedly on Friday the 24th. (An official launch date for Android has yet to be announced.)
Here Are The First Impressions Of People
Many X users tweeted this week that X replaced their “direct messages” a holdover from when the platform was Twitter with a “Chat” function. Elon Musk stated this update will include encrypted messages (similar to Signal or Meta’s WhatsApp), file sharing, and vanishing messages.
X now prompts users to create a four-digit PIN upon their first access to the new encrypted Chat feature, causing confusion among many. This update has forced a change to direct messaging, with users also expressing frustration regarding other modifications to the chat experience.
Some users allege that messages in the Chat function do not display properly. One user, who described the update as “horrific” and demanded an immediate fix, claims that all her messages appear as dead links instead of text.
Other users have criticized how the Chat function appears to no longer support voice messages, though Musk has said it will allow users to make video and audio calls.
Some users have said the feature is laggy and have reported difficulty accessing their conversations, particularly group chats, with some users saying they can’t change group chat names or add users.
Various posts have slammed the Chat feature as “unusable” and “horrible,” with some posters taking aim at Musk for making what they say are unnecessary updates to the social platform.
