[thimabi]

I think my expectations for a feature called “locked chats” are somewhat different from those of WhatsApp.

What is the value of locking something if the lock can be easily bypassed? Just preventing the least sophisticated attacks?

In this case, I think WhatsApp should have done better — or refrained from adding this feature at all.

[GrantMoyer]

> What is the value of locking something if the lock can be easily bypassed? Just preventing the least sophisticated attacks?

Amusingly, these two questions apply just as well to almost all physical locks in the material world. I suppose that makes WhatsApp's "lock" analogy apt.

[drdaeman]

However, we should consider that this is about online privacy features, which is a fairly hot topic nowadays. And it kind of feels that we got drape curtains* instead of a lock - and I think it's not exactly what people would reasonably expect for a feature like this? Or do they clarify that it's a weak protection somewhere?

___

*) I mean, it can be unlocked by literally opening JS console and typing one command. That's a gate latch at best.

[loncat4215]

> In this case, I think WhatsApp should have done better — or refrained from adding this feature at all.

At least they should encrypt the messages instead of making it seems like it's encrypted. AFAIK, in the mobile WhatsApp, locked chats will get wiped without screen lock or secret code. They make it seem like it's practically impossible to recover the messages without doing real crypto stuff on the locked chats' messages.

[0xcoffee]

Personally I use it to hide chats from my girlfriend who has access to my phone.

[jonathanlydall]

I totally get that hiding things from partners is a not uncommon thing.

Speaking as someone who has lived with my wife for over 10 years and where we can each access each other’s phones (for reasons of administrative convenience), neither of us have ever “snooped” on each other.

So when I hear of people taking advantage of features to hide chats from their partner it makes me wonder about the psychological health of either the relationship, one, or both of the partners.

There are absolutely psychologically unhealthy controlling partners who “snoop” on their partners unreasonably dictating what is and isn’t allowed. And at the same time there are also unfaithful partners who are having the kind of conversations with other people that they really shouldn’t when they’re in a committed relationship.

Only other reason I can think to hide chats are risqué group chats with friends posting arguably inappropriate content, but again, if your partner is snooping on this and then getting controlling, that’s not really healthy.

Finally, I will admit I sometimes use incognito mode on my web browser at times (but never for conversations), so perhaps I’m a bit of a hypocrite.

[j6zauas4gz]

> So when I hear of people taking advantage of features to hide chats from their partner it makes me wonder about the psychological health of either the relationship, one, or both of the partners.

I am the exact opposite and would wonder about the psychological health of either the relationship or both of the partners if they have so intertwined themselves that they no longer feel the need to keep any aspect of their identities private from each other.

> Only other reason I can think to hide chats

The number of reasons are as numerous as there are relationships. I literally just finished sending my mother a message about a joint gift to my father in a group chat that I would not want my father to see, since it would spoil his Christmas present. I have several chat groups that contain information that I am legally not allowed to let my partner, or anyone else for that matter, see. And thats not even getting into all the different levels of confidentially that friends talking amongst friends reasonably might expect when sharing stories of their personal lives with each other.

[lewisleclerc]

I'm curious, for what reasons do you use incognito?

[jonathanlydall]

Aside from technical troubleshooting reasons, never for “social” interactions. For all other times, all I will say is that your guess is probably correct.

[yownie]

sounds like a super healthy relationship.