Google Allo security: Here is what's at stake
In an attempt to make a smarter messaging application, Google has introduced 'Google Allo'. This service can read your text messages to generate a 'smart reply'.Â
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Well, if Allo can read it, surely the message can be stored too—let’s have a look that how this app can be misused.Â
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The messengers in the current market, namely—Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Hike and others - will face tough competition as Google has the upper hand. Google surely will let you connect to the maximum number of contacts.Â
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Google, however, has not revealed that what kind of user database will Allo support? But, there is a possibility that, like other Google platforms, Allo may sync contacts across Google managed applications.
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The major risk of using Allo would be keeping your messages open to Google bots, who read them and generate smart replies.Â
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The 'no encryption' policy that Google has followed will put user data security at a major risk if the messenger is synced to Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube or other private platforms.Â
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If the bots can read the messages, then it possible that other information, like passwords and bank account details, synced to your Google account, would be at a risk of being compromised.
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Apart from this, a user's data saved on Google Calendar and Maps may also be compromised if the bot assigned for reading Allo account is hacked.
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If the non-encrypted Allo bot is hacked, it may put the accounts of your contacts at a risk too.
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To be sure, all the above cases would only happen if the Google bot is hacked. But the possibility remains.Â
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However, if Google can prove the security of the same, the brand new messenger will be a bigger hit than anything else present in the market today. Â Â Â Â