Viber sends video, images without encryption protection

The online chat app Viber sends video and images without encryption and stores it online afterward at a publicly available address, researchers have found.

Ibrahim Baggili and Jason Moore, researchers from the University of New Haven's Cyber Forensics Research & Education Group, demonstrated Viber's open transmission of the data Wednesday on aYouTube video. They found the data and links to its online location by intercepting traffic on a Windows 7 PC that was setup as a wireless access point for one of the mobile phones used in the test.

It's not trivial to get the data, but attackers can do so by setting up malicious wireless access points or who use man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept network traffic. In addition, Internet and mobile service providers and wireless access point operators have access to the data -- and anyone in intelligence services they share that data with, knowingly or not.

Viber

"The key here is to let the people know about these things so they can make an informed decision about using these applications until they are patched," Baggili, an assistant professor of computer science, told CNET on Thursday.

Baggili said they contacted Viber through its support email address, but didn't hear back. On Thursday, Viber told CNET the problem should be fixed soon.

"This issue has already been resolved," the company said in a statement. "It is currently in QA [quality assurance testing], and the fix will be released for Android and submitted to Apple on Monday. As of today we aren't aware of a single user who has been affected by this."

Baggili and Moore also found a related though narrowerproblem with WhatsApp, a Viber competitor that also offers a cheaper alternative to traditional text, picture, and video messaging. WhatsApp, which Facebook is acquiring for $19 billion, has 500 million monthly active users and is expanding into voice communications. The researchers found it was sending unencrypted map imagery, something that Viber also did.

The researchers also found that Viber stores the data publicly on its servers for at least a week.

"The data is stored on Viber's server in an unencrypted manner," one of the researchers said in the video. "There is also no authentication method used, so anybody who has access to these links can look at this data, retrieve this data, and do whatever they want with it."

Stay tuned to our viber exclusive blog!!

Viber Stickers Gallore - An Images only SPECIAL !!

And Many More!!!

For more such e-gossip stay tuned with us on the ALL-Exclusive Viber only blog

Viber Free Download – Slash your Phone Bill

Viber is a free voice-calling platform for your mobile phone and it is easy to install the app in your phone.

It is a very interesting and useful application, but the catch in this service is that you need plenty of other users in your contact list to make it really useful. It is a VoIP app developed by Viber Media for smartphones. It is available for Android as well as for the Mac OS, BlackBerry OS, the iOS, Symbian and Windows Phone and so on.

Viber is a free calling and message application for both the Android and the iOS, allowing you to make free calls or send text messages to your contacts that have Viber installed on their device. You can also send messages and call other numbers of those who don’t have Viber installed on their phones, but this is not a free call. The greatest advantage is that it allows the user to cut down on expensive voice call plans. Viber was first launched on the iPhone and later on Android phones as well.

Interface

Viber has a simple and clean interface, with buttons at the bottom for messages, recent contacts and a keypad. The ‘Recents’ button shows you your recent calls as well as missed calls. Contacts show you all Viber contacts as well as contacts from your phone address book, along with favorites. With More Button, you can invite other friends to Viber as well as make adjustments to the settings, such as automatic saving of photographs or videos to the Camera on the phone or for turning off the notifications.

Setting up Viber on iOS

Viber on the iOS not only allows calls and instant messaging but also updates for profile status and other features. You can visit the App Store to download Viber for the iOS and then continue to set up your page. When asked for your mobile number, it is better to use your current number on the device, as the app will send you an SMS with a verification number. Review your mobile number in the verification window on your phone and then tap OK for proceeding to the app. Enter your access code in the box and enter the application. After entering the app for the first time, you will be asked for permission to access your contacts, so you can click on OK to be able to contact others who have registered with Viber on their device. You can also sign up for the service through Facebook and then continue.

Next, you will be able to view all your contacts with those having Viber being highlighted. All you need to do to connect is to tap on the name or the photographs. They layout is similar to the iOS contact interface, so there is no problem adjusting to the menu. Once you click on the name or the photo, you will get the option of making a call or sending text. You can also select some contacts to form a favorites list.

Pros and Cons

Some of the major advantages of using Viber are that you can get a free alternative for calling friends and contacts, which you would otherwise have to pay for. You can also send group messages, images and updates or status, offering an additional dimension to the application. You don’t need to register and the setting up process is simple and fast. The user base is quite big, so it is very likely that many of your contacts already have Viber installed. It is easy to use and you can send videos or photos as well as emoticons and stickers.

However, the cons are that both the parties must have the application otherwise the call is not a free one. In addition, the Internet connection must be of a good quality.

For more such e-gossip stay tuned with us on the ALL-Exclusive Viber only blog

Viber App Morphs Your Phone Into a Phone!!

It’s great scrolling through the favorite apps threads on FT. Scheduled flights, radar weather and pet-friendly rooms, all just a warm finger away. There’s even ryandelmundo down among the Eden-like images of life-lived-as-art Bali, speaking Indonesian with his smartphone.

So let me tell you about my favorite app, which is an overpass above the tollway of long-distance charges. You can even make local calls and short-circuit the ‘minutes used’ column of your phone bill.

Viber morphs my iPhone into a phone, plain and simple. It allows me to call any smartphone in the world for free when I’m on Wi-Fi and it too has the app. We can even text. The line is so clear that I once put the phone next to my heart and my girlfriend in Amsterdam (who turned me on to Viber) thought it was a dryer with shoes in it.

This morning from the Starbucks Wi-Fi in Butte, MT, I called my sister in Calgary. (Have you ever noticed how Canadians always talk about the weather? Move along big sis, I got the weather app.)

Think about it. You’re up among the contrails on a Wi-Fi loaded aircraft and you’re making sweet talk with your kids. (I’ve never used it in the air, but can’t see why it wouldn’t work.) You land in Tokyo and call your wife to cop to a feeling of loneliness. You call your dad, but not collect. You text your husband so he can’t hear the live band in the bar while you finger poke the joys of reading that Jodi Picoult novel in your Buenos Aires hotel room.

Did I mention the Viber app is free?

HOW TO : MAKE FREE CALLS AND SEND FREE TEXTS WITH VIBER!

Viber is an application for iPhone and Android phones that lets you make free phone calls and send free text messages to anyone who also has the application installed. Its similar to Skype except you don't need to add contacts or ask for IDs. 

Step 1

Download Viber from the iPhone or Android app stores.

Step 2

In order to use Viber you must allow it to access your address book. If this is OK with you, click OK when that prompt appears after launching the app. 

Step 3

Follow prompts and enter your phone number. You will receive an access code by text message that you'll be prompted to input into the appropriate field.

Step 4

Now you'll be able to browse through your phone contacts and see who already has the application downloaded. In the app there is menu bar that lets you sort contacts according those who already have the app. For those contacts simply tap their name and then select either "free call" or "free message"

Step 5

If you want to use Viber to call or message someone who doesn't have the app just tap their name and click "invite to Viber". They'll receive an invite SMS from you and can then download the app so you can communicate for free. Otherwise you can always call them with normal usage charges from within Viber.

Step 6

In "Settings" you can opt to invite people via email instead of SMS. 

Tip!

Remember what makes Viber convenient is that you can use your real contacts and phone numbers. However- this means you are NOT communicating anonymously. If you need to communicate anonymously you should use Skype or another tool. Check out these guides for more ideas. 

Tip!

Remember, as with any online or mobile tool, the creators of this app have access to your personal information. While there is no precedent of Viber sharing this information in a way that could be compromising to activists,you must always be aware of the risks and security issues where you live before using a commnication tool to discuss plans or issues that could endanger you. You can read the full privacy policy for Viber here- and we encourage you to do so. 

For more such e-gossip stay tuned with us on the ALL-Exclusive Viber only blog

With 16 Million India Users, Viber Is Investing In Research To Create Localized Content For India: Anubhav Nayyar,Country Head

With Indians specially the youth spending more time on mobile, messaging apps in India are witnessing an explosive growth and business initiatives. The world’s most popular messaging app, WhatsApp is leading the race in India with more than 40 million active users. The fight now is to occupy the second spot and then subsequently provide a stiff competition in a market, recently tagged as the fastest growing smartphone market in the globe by Gartner.

There is homegrown Hike, Chinese giant Tencent’s WeChat, Japan headquartered Line, Nimbuzz and Cyprus based messaging and VOIP app Viber to name a few, who are competing in the messaging space as well as expanding their base into voice.

Known for its free voice calling feature, Viber made big news last month when it was acquired by Rakuten, one of Japan’s largest Internet companies, for $900 million. However, the news phased out after Facebook dropped the bomb with its acquisition of WhatsApp for $19billion.

But, Viber is not out of the game; it is already adding 600,000 users daily, up by about 50,000 from Feb 14 when the deal was announced. At the time of acquisition, Viber had 100 million active users from its 280 million global registered users. Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten and Japan’s third-richest person with a net worth of $8.2 billion, in an interview with Bloomberg Technology shared that he aims to expand to 2 billion users with this acquisition.

Viber today has 300 million registered users globally out of which 16 million are registered users from India and 4 million are the active ones. Today India is an important market for Viber which has India operations based out in Gurgaon.

“We started our operations in India in December, but the app has been around for the last three to four years,” shares Anubhav Nayyar, Country Head, Viber India, while exchanging his thoughts over an email interview.

The key idea behind setting up an Indian operations unit was to understand the consumer for Viber which operates across 193 countries. “One of our key imperatives is also to understand what the users like or dislike – not just about Viber, but about the social messaging space in general. It is such an evolving category that it changes every two-three months.

So although we have been able to maintain our position, one of the key things is to bring about localization.”

Viber believes in providing a great user experience and it is developing products that help users share rich content. “We have always ensured that our products are simple to use and because we believe that if a product is simple to use, has a good user experience, provides some relevant benefits to the consumer, advertising can be kept on hold,” Nayyar said while sharing Viber’s philosophy to not confuse its users by introducing ads or games.

Viber’s presence on all major platforms has helped its growth and since India is still dominated by 80% feature phone market, Viber’s presence on desktop has been a boon. Going further Viber will be directing its efforts towards improvising its existing products.

The recent partnership announced at the MWC 2014 with Nokia wherein Viber will come pre-installed on Nokia’s new range of Android phones will boost the user base, Nayyar predicts.

Viber is not only working on the user experience and introducing localized products, it is also working on scaling its revenues. Mikitani recently acknowledged that the Viber deal was a big one at a time when Rakuten had a $29.5 million net loss last year. So the focus is to monetize for the company that paid about $3 for each of Viber’s users.

Right now Viber has two revenue models: first is via the Viber stickers or rich emoticons, close to 90 percent of stickers are free, but for the rest one has to pay and they are renowned characters such as Garfield or Smurfs. So users have an option between these or the 1200 odd free stickers. So this model is based on expression.

Nayyar states that, “people love to communicate through stickers to express themselves and therefore they are even ready to pay for these stickers.” However, he chose not to share any numbers on what percentage of people from India are opting for the paid stickers.

The second part of monetizing is based on functionality. Viber has Viber Out feature which allows users to make calls to anyone across the globe on their cellphones or landlines.

Voice calling feature is getting exciting with WhatsApp and Nimbuzz joining the space with telco partnership. However, Viber isn’t worried about the growing competition and is confident about the superiority of its services.

“When it comes to making calls using data connection in the phone, we have better technology. We are confident that we will offer the most clear and reliable calls using data connection. Other app makers may try to include the same feature in their IM apps but our service will be superior,” Nayyar informs.

Further he states that, “Viber Out works really well on 3G. With 2G, users may face a bit of network issues but if you want to really enjoy the video, you should be on 3G.” With 3G roll out yet to be a success in India, Viber Out will have to wait before it becomes a common go-to feature for calling.

Talking on the recent controversy created by telcos in India asking TRAI to impose regulation on messaging apps, he thinks that telecom operators are never a competition and there is a symbiotic relationship existing between operators and instant messaging apps.

“At the end of the day, instant messaging apps run on data plans which are provided by these operators, except for when people are using it in a Wi-Fi zone. People love to share and be on IM apps and these add to the revenue of the telecom operators.”

Going further in 2014, Viber aims to double its user base by providing them with unmatched messaging and voice calling features. Nayyar also added that with a team based in Gurgaon which is purely focused on investing in research to create localized content for India, Viber users could look forward to some exciting innovations in the coming future.

Read more at http://www.business2community.com/world-news/16-million-india-users-viber-investing-research-create-localized-content-india-anubhav-nayyar-country-head-0822691#X3jrcerAFEzUZcYJ.99

Why do 175 million people use Viber?

Why do 175 million people use Viber? It’s not because the over-the-top (OTT) messaging service is free. According to Viber CEO Talmon Marco, it’s because of the experience.

Around 70,000 people are attending MWC this year

Speaking at Mobile World Congress 2013, Marco gave the example of Monaco, where almost 90 percent of that country’s residents use Viber. With four times the average per capita income of the United States, Monaco’s residents aren’t poor. Nor are they particular young; Monaco’s median age is just under 50. And SMS services provided by the local service provider are free.

But still Monaco residents are flooding to Viber because of the services it provides: group messaging, delivery confirmation, high-quality photo sharing, stickers and emoticons, the “is typing” indication, as well as location sharing.

“Consumers want innovation,” Marco said, and so the rich, middle-aged residents of Monaco want to use Viber, not because they can’t afford to send a regular SMS, but because they want to take part in something new and fresh.

The only OTT representative on the MWC panel discussing the future of communications, Marco argued that service providers should work with OTT players and use their services to differentiate themselves and build customer stickiness. Marco said he “would love to offer Viber calls at high quality through cooperation with a carrier.” Not only would this help carriers differentiate, he said, they might even be able to charge for such a service.

Deutsche Telekom CEO René Obermann, who earlier had dismissed the OTT paradigm – You [the service provider] invest, we [the OTT player] take the profit – as unsustainable, did not rule out working with OTT players:

“OTT is taking SMS/voice revenue – it’s a fact of life, we need to deal with it…we’re willing to sit down tomorrow with OTT players. We don’t see it as a conflict; we see it as an opportunity.”

If service providers are to succeed in the future, Obermann concluded, they have to become “much smarter” and embrace innovation by partnering.

For more such e-gossip stay tuned with us on the ALL-Exclusive Viber only blog

Viber updated to 4.2 – gets Contact / Number blocking feature

Viber - the popular VoIP app – got the much awaited “blocking” feature in its latest update to version 4.2.

Usually Viber uses your phone number as your Viber ID. The app automatically syncs your local contact list, thereby automatically detecting which of your contacts have Viber. So, for all the contacts that have Viber, they can reach you (on Viber) with no option available to ignore, block or hide from them.

However, the latest update of Viber (version 4.2) released 23-Jan-2014 includes a feature that will allow you to block any number or contact from calling you or sending you messages. Alas, you can finally turn off your foes away easily.

As of now this new feature is available only on Android application. You can access this option from Settings->Privacy->Block List. From here you have to enter the number which you want to block. I couldn’t find a way to block the contact from the contact list. So you have to manually enter the number(s) you want to block.

The other noticeable updates included in version 4.2 allow you to customize message and call sounds, to send up to 10 photos at the same time, provide native contacts integration to call/message someone directly from within Viber, and provide a new media gallery (photo and video) to use within conversations.

You can get the updated app from Google Play link here.

As always Viber comes for Free and with no-advertisements.

Do not forget to use the free stickers to bring a flavor to your Viber conversations.

For more such e-gossip stay tuned with us on the ALL-Exclusive Viber only blog

Travel Apps I actually use…

I am going to be writing a short series on travel apps.  No, it will not be a list of the apps I think are best. Rather, it will be an introduction to the apps I actually use, and why they work for me when traveling internationally. The only thing that may govern the ‘order’ in which I share them might be how much I use or like them.

Viber

If you don’t like paying outrageous fees for text and phone calls while you are traveling you may want to consider the Viber app. Viber is offered for free in the app store and allows you to send texts and share both photos and videos with friends and family. With Viber you can make VoIP calls using 3G, 4G, LTE, or wi-fi. Wi-Fi seems to offer the best connectivity, although I have had no complaints using it on my 4G iPhone.

Download is quick and set up is  a simple process because Viber searches your Contact data in order to find the people in your list who also use Viber.  Viber can only be used with others who also have downloaded the app. Some consider this a drawback, but I rather like it. I feel that if there is someone not in my contact list already using the program, I can just ask them if they would like to try it. I use it primarily to stay in touch with home.

Calls aren’t handled by your regular carrier, but are routed through Viber’s VoIP network. This means that there might be some latency issues with your call. I have only experienced this when my reception is a bit dodgy to begin with.  Remember that when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, a Viber call will count towards your data plan but will still more than likely cost a lot less than a regular call – particularly if you are calling other countries.

Viber’s attempt to stand out from the traditional phone experience involves it’s promotion and use stickers in text messages. Not only can you send photos, videos, locations, smileys (and other emoticons),but you can share large Viber-made “stickers.” Some stickers are free however some come with a price tag.

Viber founder Talmon Marco stresses the security of the app. He says:

…Viber does not “have the capability to listen to conversations”. Messages are stored, for two weeks or until they are opened by the recipient, whichever is shorter. Around 80% are deleted in less than a second. The messages are encrypted, and Marco says he has never handed the encryption key to any government.

I really like the fact that when I am using Viber for messaging, the visual looks just the same as on my iPhone making it simple to navigate. Some of the features include a navigation bar at the bottom with buttons for Messages, Recents, Contacts, and More. The More button allows you to invite friends to Viber and adjust other settings, such as automatic photo save to your Camera Roll and being able to turn notifications off.

For more such e-gossip stay tuned with us on the ALL-Exclusive Viber only blog

Viber's a Worthy Alternative to Outgoing GrooveIP

Viber is cheap, but that's not all. Viber's call quality is comparable to Skype and GrooveIP over both LTE mobile wireless Internet and home-based WiFi, so there's no downside there. Add to the mix 200 million Viber users, group calls, free video and picture messages, push-to-talk, and automatic syncing with your Android contact list. Goodbye GooveIP, Hello Viber.
Viber is available in the Google Play store for free.

Google has been clamping down on third-party apps that ride piggyback on its Google Voice telephony service.

A merger between Google Voice and Hangouts this year will result in the shuttering of an open protocol exploited by apps that used the Google Voice service for free SMS texting and VoIP calling. The days of free Internet-based in-U.S. smartphone calls over Google's network are numbered.
GrooveIP is one service that will be a victim, and it will be missed. I've written about Snrb labs' GrooveIP before, and its remarkable free in-U.S. calling over Google's XMPP interface. 

New Kid on the Block

What to do? Well, a slew of mobile virtual network operators are pitching all-in, unlimited U.S.-wide calling, along with a chunk of LTE data in monthly prepaid deals at the $40 to $50 range -- like Walmart's StraightTalk, which uses AT&T and T-Mobile, for example -- so that's an alternative for U.S. calling, if a little dull and expensive.
VoIP granddaddy Skype is still out there, of course, and it is a viable Android app alternative with a pay-as-you-go voice calling rate of 2.3 cents a minute to U.S. numbers and an unlimited U.S. rate of $2.99 per month. It's not free, like GrooveIP, but it's worth a look.
Then there's newish kid Viber, a Skype-like voice and text messaging service. It recently launched Viber Out, a VoIP calling service to non-Viber mobile and landlines -- also for a fee.
Scrambling for a GrooveIP replacement, I've been taking a look at Viber's Viber Out: 

• Viber-to-Viber, like Skype-to-Skype VoIP calls, are free. These are calls that you make with your handset in-app to other Viber users.
• Viber's over-the-Internet calling service, Viber Out, lets you call non-Viber landlines and mobiles. As with Skype, Viber's external calling service has a per-minute rate for calling those landlines and mobiles. Viber Out's rate for a 1-minute call within the contiguous U.S. -- in other words, a U.S. originating number calling a U.S. destination number -- is 1.9 cents. That's' a savings of a little under half-a cent over Skype's same scenario calling at 2.3 cents.

So, Viber is clearly cheaper than Skype's out calling. Whether half-a cent is something you'll notice is another question. 

Penny - and Pound - Wise 

Indeed, I've found my purchased credit has gotten eaten up over the years using Google Voice and other VoIP products when calling overseas cellphones, not U.S. numbers.
Skype until very recently charged more than 17 cents a minute to call a UK mobile -- it's now 8 cents; Google Voice charges a significant 21 cents to call certain UK mobiles -- the common ones are 10 cents a minute.
These numbers add up. A 10-minute call to a UK mobile with GrooveIP over Google Voice comes in at a buck. Do that daily for a week and you're out $7.
Viber, on the other hand, along with a 1.9 cent rate for calling UK landlines, comes in at a modest 5.9 cents per minute rate to call UK mobiles.
Using our 10-minute example, a week of Viber UK mobile calling would come in at $4.13, a savings of $2.87 -- or $150 if you made the same call daily for a year.
In testing, I found Viber's call quality to be comparable to Skype and GrooveIP over both LTE mobile wireless Internet and home-based WiFi, so there's no downside there.
Add to the mix 200 million Viber users, group calls, free video and picture messages, push-to-talk, and automatic syncing with your Android contact list.
One thing to watch out for: To prevent unexpected telco billing, you need to make sure your call is getting routed over Viber when you make it, rather than over your usual phone network. It's easy to mess up when Internet signal strength is low. Look for the Viber-purple numerals on the dial pad.

For more such e-gossip stay tuned with us on the ALL-Exclusive Viber only blog