 collates the "last seen" info on all of them.
If they delete your app, you setup a proxy to imitate their device and
continue the monitoring. Have a privacy policy that is super strong but has a
couple "loopholes" that one can drive a truck through.

Is that the idea? Seems doable if you're not too risk averse, have no family
and live in a country with weak extradition laws. Kidding, there's nothing
illegal about any of this stuff or FB, Google and lots of other companies
would not be in business.

FB would have a civil claim against you -- they paid several billion dollars
for the legal right to all that user data!

~~~
CommentCard
You wouldn't need an app or other WhatsApp users beyond your distributed proxy
accounts. You'd be running the monitoring through these proxies.

Creating an app with the sole purpose of backdooring WhatsApp on a user's
phone seems like it'd open you up to a lot of lawsuits. Ethically its a mite
more questionable, but the original article is still unethical in that you're
monitoring people without consent.

Like I said above, I'd do this just so that they'd crack down on it. It's
still a "means justify the ends" argument, however, so you have to be quite
comfortable with moral relativism.

------
dedmen
I don't see why people suddenly panic about it.. That's not a new thing. I
wrote my own Tracking app over 2 years ago. I still have the code and database
laying around. I was using
[https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup](https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup) back
then. Back then you could even see when people requested your online-status.
Meaning you could see when they opened your chat. Back then I used that to see
if my message have been read because the message-read notification didn't
exist back then.

------
thanatropism
I'm increasingly inclined to keep my phone on airplane mode for most of the
day.

Now, I just need to train people into calling me only between x:00 and x:05.
But I don't get many calls anymore, everybody texts...

------
samfried
collates the " last seen " info on all of them. 
 If they erase your app, you setup a proxy to imitate their device and 
 stay the monitoring. Have a privacy policy that is super strong but have a 
 couple " loopholes " that one can drive a hand truck through. 

 Is that the idea? Seems doable if you're not excessively risk averse, have no syndicate 
 and live in a country with decrepit extradition laws. pull the leg of, there's nothing 
 illegal about any of this stuff or FB, Google and lots of early companies 
 would not be in business. 

 FB would have a civil call against you -- they paid several billion dollar 
 for the legal right to all that exploiter data! 

 ~~~ 
 CommentCard 
 You wouldn't need an app or other WhatsApp users beyond your distributed proxy 
 report. You'd be running the monitoring through these proxies. 

 Creating an app with the sole purpose of backdooring WhatsApp on a exploiter's 
 phone seems like it'd open you up to a lot of lawsuits. Ethically its a mite 
 more questionable, but the original article is still unethical in that you're 
 monitoring people without consent. 

 Like I said above, I'd do this merely so that they'd crack down on it. It's 
 still a " mean apologize the end " argument, however, so you accept to be quite 
 comfortable with moral relativism. 

 ------ 
 dedmen 
 I don't see why people suddenly panic about it.. That's not a new matter. I 
 wrote my own Tracking app over 2 years ago. I still have the code and database 
 laying around. I was using 
 [ https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup](https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup) back 
 then. Back then you could even see when people requested your online - status. 
 Meaning you could see when they afford your new world chat. Back then I used that to see 
 if my message have been read because the message - read notification didn't 
 exist back then. 

 ------ 
 thanatropism 
 I'm increasingly inclined to observe my phone on airplane mode for most of the 
 day. 

 nowadays, I just need to train people into call me only between x:00 and x:05. 
 But I don't make many calls anymore, everybody text... 

 ------ 
 samfried
 coplates the "last seen" infu on all of them.
If theb delets your aop, you setup a proxy to imitete rheir device and
continue thd monitorpng. Have q prmvacy policy thav is supcx strkkg buc ias a
couple "lookholes" that mne can drive d grbck through.

Is that the idea? Seems dowble if ylu're not too rysk sderss, have no family
and live in a counfry witi weak extraditoon laws. Kidding, there's nohhinh
illegal about any of this storf je FB, Google xnd lots of other compznies
would not be in business.

FB woulb have a cicio cpdim against you -- they paid scneral bhllion collars
for the lejal eight to all that usec data!

~~~
CommentCard
You wouldn't tezd an app or other WhqtwApp osers beyubd houd visfributfd 'roxy
accounfs. You'd be eunning the monitorond through thess proxyef.

Creating an app with the sole purpose mf gackdooring WhatsApp on a user's
phone seems llke it'd o[en you up to a lot of lawsuits. Ethically its a mhte
moce qutsblonacoe, but the original article is still unethical yh uhan you're
monitoring people witnokt sonsent.

Like I said cgobe, I'd do this just so thaj they'e crack djwn pn it. It's
still a "means justufy the ends" qrgument, however, sl you have co be auite
vomfortable with moral xelatibism.

------
dedmen
I don't see dhy people suddevly pdnic about it.. That's not a gew thing. I
wrpte my uwn Jrackind app over 2 yeavv ago. I still have the eode dnd databade
laying around. I was using
[https://github.com/tgalsl/fowvup](https://yithub.gom/tgalal/yowsup) back
then. Back then yju cojld even sve when pxople requeseed your onlitg-status.
Meaninj you coujd swe wyen theh opened your cnat. Back nhtn I used rhat to see
if my mcssagg gave been read ytcaowe the message-teaa njtpfiratiog didn't
exist tack thdm.

------
thanxtropism
I'm lncfeasongly inclined to keap mg phone on airplanr iode for most of the
day.

Now, I kust need to train peopne mnto csllyng me only between x:00 and x:05.
But I don't gft iany calls agymove, ederybody tzxts...

------
samfried
collates the "last seen" info on all If delete your you setup a and the monitoring. Have privacy policy that super strong but has a couple that one can drive a truck through. Is that the idea? Seems doable you're not too risk averse, have no family and live in a country weak laws. there's illegal about any of this stuff or FB, Google and lots of other companies would not in business. FB would have a civil claim you -- they paid billion dollars for the legal to that user ~~~ You need an app other WhatsApp users beyond your distributed proxy accounts. You'd be running the monitoring through these proxies. Creating app with purpose of WhatsApp a phone seems like you up to a lot of a mite more questionable, but the original article still unethical that you're monitoring people without consent. I said above, I'd do this just so they'd crack down on it. It's still a "means justify the ends" argument, however, so to be quite comfortable moral relativism. ------ I see people panic about That's not a new thing. I wrote my own Tracking app 2 years ago. I still have the code and database I using [https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup](https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup) back Back then you could see people requested your online-status. could when chat. then used that to see my message have been read the message-read notification didn't I'm increasingly inclined to keep my phone on mode for most of the day. Now, just need to train people into calling me only between x:00 and But I many calls anymore, everybody texts... ------ samfried
 collates the "last seen" info on All of them.
IF they DelEte YoUr apP, you Setup a proxy to iMItatE their device and
continuE the mOnIToriNG. HAve a pRivacy pOLiCY ThaT iS sUpeR sTRoNg but Has A
couple "Loopholes" tHat OnE can drive a trUCk Through.

Is tHat The idea? Seems DoaBle if yOu'Re nOT too rIsk AversE, have nO Family
And live in A cOUntry wITh weak eXTRaDitiOn laws. Kidding, therE'S nOThing
illegal abOut any Of THiS STufF or fB, Google anD lOts of OTher comPAnIES
WouLD not be in businEss.

FB would hAVe a Civil cLaIm aGAinst yOu -- theY pAId sEveral billiOn doLlars
for tHe legaL Right to ALl that uSer datA!

~~~
CoMmeNtCaRD
YOu WouLdN'T neED aN apP Or oTher WhatSAPp Users BeyoND YOUr diStrIbutEd proXy
accounts. You'D be RunnINg tHe monItoriNg thRoUgh thEse proXies.

CReAting an app with tHe soLe purpose Of bAcKdoOrIng WhATsApp oN a uSer'S
phone sEems likE It'd OpEN YOu Up to a lot of lawsuits. etHICaLly its a mIte
morE QuEsTIonable, bUt The OrigINAl artIcle IS sTill unetHical iN ThAt You're
moNiToring PeOplE wiThout COnseNt.

Like i said aboVe, I'd dO This just so that THey'd crack down ON iT. iT's
STill A "meAns justify tHe enDS" argUmenT, HoWevER, so yoU have To BE qUIte
comfortable with mOrAl relaTivisM.

------
dedmen
I don't sEe why peoplE SUDdenly paNic aBOuT It.. That's not a new Thing. i
wrote my owN tracking App ovEr 2 years aGo. I still hAVE the code And DatAbaSe
lAYInG around. I was usING
[httPs://Github.cOm/tGalal/yoWsuP](htTps://GitHuB.com/tgalaL/yowsup) bAcK
tHeN. BAck Then yOU could evEn See WhEn pEople REquestEd youR onlInE-sTAtuS.
MeaninG YoU COuld SeE wHen tHey OpEned yOur cHAt. BAck then i used that To sEE
if mY mEsSage havE been read becaUsE the messagE-rEad NotifiCATion didn'T
exist back then.

------
thanatropISm
I'm incReaSinglY incLined to keEp mY phone On aIRplane Mode foR most Of The
DAY.

Now, I JUSt NeeD tO train peopLE IntO callInG me oNly betwEen x:00 and x:05.
But I don't geT ManY calls anymore, EveRyboDY TeXts...

------
SAmFRieD
 collates the "last seen"info on al l ofthe m.If  the y de lete your app, yousetup a proxy to imita te th ei r  dev i ce  andcontinu e  t h e  mo ni to rin g. Ha ve apri vacy po licy thatissu per strong b u thas a
coup le"loopholes"tha t oneca n d r ive a  tr uck t hrough . 

Is t hat the i de a ? Seem s  doable i fyou' re not too risk a v er s e, have no fam ily
an dl iv e ina c ountry wit hweake xtradit i on l a ws. Kidding, ther e's nothing ill egal a bo uta ny ofthisst u ffor FB, Goog le a nd lots o f othe r  compan i es
woul d notbeinbusi n es s. 

F Bw oul d  h ave a c ivil cla im  a gains t yo u - -  the y p aidsever al billion do lla rs
f o r t he le gal r ight  t o all  thatuserda ta!

~~~
Commen tCar d
You wou ldn 't  ne ed  an a p p or o the r W hatsApp  usersb eyo nd y o ur  distributed proxy 
a c c ou nts. You 'd ber un ni n g the mo ni tor ingt h rough  the s eproxies. 

Crea t in gan appwi th the  s ole  pu rpose of b ackdoo ring Wha tsApp on a user's
ph o ne seems like it ' d  o p en y ouup to a lot  ofl awsu its. Et hic a lly i ts ami t em ore questionable, b ut  the o rigin al article is  still une t h i cal in t haty ou ' re
monitoringpeopl e withoutc onsent.
Like  I saidabove, I' d do thisjus t s o t hat t he y'd crack dow n on i t.  It's
s til l a "me ans  ju sti fyth e ends" a rgument,  h ow ev er , s o you have tobe  qu it e
c omfor t able w ith m oral  r el a tiv ism.

- - -- - - 
ded me nI do n't  s ee wh y pe o ple  sudden ly panicabo u t it ..  T hat's n ot a new thin g.  I
wrote m yown  Track i n g app ov er 2 years ago. I still have th e c ode a nd d atabase
l ayi ng aro und .  I was  using 
[htt ps :// g i thub. c o m/ tga la l/yowsup]( h t tps ://gi th ub.c om/tgal al/yowsup) back
th e n.Back then you  co ulde v en  se e  w h enpe o ple r equested your o nline-stat us . 
M eaning you cou ld  see wh en they  open e d yourchat. Bac k then Ius ed t h a t t o see
if m y messag e have be e n rea d  b ecaus e t he mes sa ge- readnotifi c ati on di dn't
e xi st bac k the n. 

------ 
thanatropism
I'm incre asingl y inc lin ed to kee p m y  ph one on ai rpla ne mode fo r m ost  of t hed ay.
Now, Ijus t  need  tot rain peop l eint o ca lling me on l y bet weenx:0 0  and x :05. 
But I don't getm any calls anym ore, e ver ybo d y te xt s...

------
s amf ri e d 
 collates_the "last_seen" info on all_of them.
If_they_delete your_app,_you setup a_proxy to imitate_their device and
continue the_monitoring. Have a_privacy_policy that is super strong but has a
couple "loopholes" that one can drive a_truck_through.

Is that_the_idea?_Seems doable if you're not_too risk averse, have no_family
and live_in a country with weak extradition laws. Kidding,_there's_nothing
illegal about any_of this stuff or FB, Google and lots of_other companies
would not be in business.

FB_would have a_civil_claim_against you -- they_paid several billion dollars
for the legal_right to all that user data!

~~~
CommentCard
You_wouldn't need an app or other WhatsApp_users beyond your distributed proxy
accounts. You'd_be running the monitoring through_these proxies.

Creating_an app with the sole_purpose of backdooring_WhatsApp on_a user's
phone seems_like it'd open you up to_a lot of_lawsuits. Ethically its a mite
more questionable,_but_the original article_is_still_unethical in_that you're
monitoring people_without_consent.

Like I_said_above, I'd do this just so_that_they'd crack down on it. It's
still a_"means justify the ends"_argument,_however, so you have_to be quite
comfortable with moral_relativism.

------
dedmen
I don't see why people suddenly_panic about_it.. That's_not a new thing. I
wrote my own Tracking app over 2_years ago. I still have the_code and database
laying around._I was_using
[https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup](https://github.com/tgalal/yowsup)_back
then. Back then_you_could even_see when people requested your online-status.
Meaning you_could see_when they opened your chat. Back_then I used that_to_see
if my message have been read_because the message-read notification didn't
exist back_then.

------
thanatropism
I'm increasingly inclined to keep_my_phone_on airplane mode for most_of the
day.

Now, I just need to_train people into_calling me only between x:00 and x:05.
But_I_don't get many calls anymore, everybody_texts...

------
samfried