Nothing Chats App Removed from Play Store Due to Major Privacy Concerns!

Apple’s iMessage is one of the most popular communication platforms. It is also the reason why many love their iPhones. But, iMessage is also the reason why many don’t switch to Android, as they don’t wish to be left out of group chats. And well, the green bubble shame is also a primary reason. Recently, Carl Peiannouncedthe ‘Nothing Chats’ app to bring iMessage to Android. However, amidst security concerns, the app has beentaken down from the Play Store.

According to a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the company says it has removed its Nothing Chats beta app from the Play Store. The launch will be delayed “until further notice,” and Nothing said it will work with Sunbird (who built the technology that enabled iMessage functionality in Nothing chats) to “fix several bugs.”We’ve removed the Nothing Chats beta from the Play Store and will be delaying the launch until further notice to work with Sunbird to fix several bugs.We apologise for the delay and will do right by our users.— Nothing (@nothing)November 18, 2023

We’ve removed the Nothing Chats beta from the Play Store and will be delaying the launch until further notice to work with Sunbird to fix several bugs.We apologise for the delay and will do right by our users.— Nothing (@nothing)November 18, 2023

Nothing also added that it will ‘do right by our users‘, so there is hope that the company has plans to work on these issues. But what are these issues and should you be worried? Let’s look into it.

Privacy & Security Concerns in Nothing Chats App: Details

As revealed by a teardown of the app by select Android app developers and security researchers, theNothing Chats app is not secure at all. While Nothing and Sunbird claim the iMessage emulating Chats app has ‘end-to-end encryption‘, it has been slammed down to be the opposite instead.

The discoveries show that various information such as contact information, message contents, and even attachment data, can all be hackedinto. Apparently, the user data which is sent through Sunbird’s technology over HTTP, remainsinsecure during transit. Furthermore, it has been revealed that Sunbird can read all your messages and see the media you share with actual iMessage users using the Nothing Chats app. The investigations have been shared by a developer calledDylan Rousselon X (formerly Twitter).

Moreover, the team that developed WordPress & Tumblr, recently published its findingsregarding Sunbird/Nothing Chats Security. It has pointed out three major issues:Data in transit vulnerability,Data atrest vulnerability, andInsider Threat / Data Exposureas well. You can read their detailed report at the link above.Thread time!Summary:– Sunbird has access to every message sent and received through the app on your device.– All of the documents (images, videos, audios, pdfs, vCards…) sent through Nothing Chat AND Sunbird are public.– Nothing Chats is not end-to-end encrypted.— Dylan Roussel (@evowizz)November 18, 2023texts team took a quick look at the tech behind nothing chats and found out it’s extremely insecureit’s not even using HTTPS, credentials are sent over plaintext HTTPbackend is running an instance of BlueBubbles, which doesn’t support end-to-end encryption yetpic.twitter.com/IcWyIbKE86— Kishan Bagaria (@KishanBagaria)November 17, 2023

Thread time!Summary:– Sunbird has access to every message sent and received through the app on your device.– All of the documents (images, videos, audios, pdfs, vCards…) sent through Nothing Chat AND Sunbird are public.– Nothing Chats is not end-to-end encrypted.— Dylan Roussel (@evowizz)November 18, 2023

texts team took a quick look at the tech behind nothing chats and found out it’s extremely insecureit’s not even using HTTPS, credentials are sent over plaintext HTTPbackend is running an instance of BlueBubbles, which doesn’t support end-to-end encryption yetpic.twitter.com/IcWyIbKE86— Kishan Bagaria (@KishanBagaria)November 17, 2023

So, what do you think of the Nothing Chats app being removed from the Play Store? Do you think the project will continue to be alive, and iMessage will come to Android after all? Would you use an app to emulate iMessage, despite the security concerns? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Satyam Kumar

Highly passionate about technology. Major expertise in PC hardware, the VR industry, esports-centric gear, and other gadgets. In my spare time, I’m usually researching exciting hardware breakthroughs or playing competitive games.

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