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Google Allo security: Here is what's at stake

Google Allo security Here is whats 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'. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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.

 

The major risk of using Allo would be keeping your messages open to Google bots, who read them and generate smart replies. 

 

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. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

If the non-encrypted Allo bot is hacked, it may put the accounts of your contacts at a risk too.

 

To be sure, all the above cases would only happen if the Google bot is hacked.  But the possibility remains. 

 

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.        

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