Trusting any non-open source program for security is unwise.

Try Open Whisper's Signal app:
https://whispersystems.org/

Did anyone expect differently? Really?

Not at all, but still disappointed.

see my previous statements about google being untrustworthy since it is contracted by our government, and extrapolate to other internet companies.





btw. ZTE phones are complete crap.

I'd be curious to know how an app company could make something that allows encrypted communication, regular updating, and a revenue stream for the coders that couldn't somehow be hacked and/or compromised by governments. If it was possible, could it survive legal challenges?

Sure, it's simple; don't store messages non-locally. Then there's nothing to subpoena.

But that doesn't cover interception, does it?

I was referring to legal challenges.

Right, but I had several points about why this never seems to work out, that just being one of them. It just takes one change in the TOS because of a big payout and there goes privacy.

It also doesn't help that retention of user data happens at some level at some instance in the use of every internet-enabled application (even if for a brief time), and that such data is often what the apps trade on (selling to advertisers), leading to abuse.

Well, Open Whisper is a nonprofit.

Put everything on the cloud they said - it'll be GREAT they said...