Apps

Zoom isn’t as safe as you might think

Doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption, leaks personal emails

Published

April 1, 2020

Luigi Leonardo

As working from home finally rises in popularity, teleconferencing apps are also getting their share of the limelight. Amidst all this, Zoom has become one of the most popular choices today, upending Skype and Google Hangouts for the top spot. The app offers ease of use and convenience in the work from home era.

Convenience, of course, is just one aspect of good app development. Cybersecurity, especially now, is another. Unfortunately, new investigations have revealed the software’s dubious caveats.

First reported by The Intercept, Zoom is not offering true end-to-end encryption, contrary to what it’s advertising. Conventionally, end-to-end encryption ensures that only the meeting’s participants can access the information shared in a call. Ideally, no one can access the call’s video, audio, and text messages.

According to the company’s website, Zoom offers this exact service. However, from a spokesperson’s exact words, the platform can’t provide this service at all. Instead, it offers the more rudimentary TLS encryption.

In contrast, TLS encryption is a step below true end-to-end. Though it still protects the information from malicious third parties, it does not protect data from Zoom itself. The company can still access your call. If anything, its only truly encrypted feature is text messaging during calls.

Of course, Zoom emphasizes its respect for cybersecurity. “Zoom takes its users’ privacy extremely seriously. Zoom only collects data from individuals using the Zoom platform as needed to provide the service and ensure it is delivered as effectively as possible,” the company said in a statement.

Now, in a completely different report, Zoom is taking a more reactive approach to cybersecurity. Reported by Vice, the company is potentially leaking everyone’s personal emails to other users.

The platform offers a feature called “Company Directory,” which collates all users using the same domain. Naturally, the feature is helpful for companies with its own email addresses. For example, if you own an “@companyxyz.com” email, you’ll be able to see other Zoom users with the same email.

However, if you use a personal email, this can lead to weird consequences. In the report, several users who did just that have seen unknown persons appearing on their Company Directory. Thankfully, Zoom doesn’t list more popular domains in this feature. Gmail and Yahoo users are safe for now. Still, if you use a non-standard domain for your personal email, you might be in for a surprise.

Fortunately, Zoom is blacklisting domains as they get reported. The domains listed on the report have already been removed from the feature. Regardless, Zoom’s recent hiccups can turn into a warning call. Even in the age of telecommuting, take care of your own security online.

Apps

Google, on Android adopting Liquid Glass: “Not happening!”

Just in case you were wondering.

Published

May 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Google is slightly moving away from Material Design. Last week, a set of icon changes saw Android adding splashes of gradients to its formerly flat app icons. To poke fun at Android’s move away from flat designs, a user on X created a mockup of Android running Apple’s Liquid Design. Google, however, had a response ready in the chamber.

On X, @Micetor made a mockup of Android, specifically on the upcoming Pixel 11, using Apple’s latest Liquid Design aesthetics. It looked much like what an iPhone does except with Google’s icons and fonts.

Clearly, Google does not need to reply to any unsubstantiated mockups about its ecosystem. But they still did.

Sameer Samat, Google’s head for the Android ecosystem, personally replied to the mockup with a simple rebuttal: “Not happening!”

Not happening! Y'all are wild. 😂

— Sameer Samat (@ssamat) May 5, 2026

Despite using the design language for over a decade, Google does not want to drop Material Design altogether. Though the new gradients have revitalized the design language somewhat, the essence of flat design is still there.

Apple, on the other hand, wants a return to 3D. Liquid Design mimics the transparent aesthetics of Windows Vista. Though a bunch of users have found the design polarizing, other brands have started copying the design for themselves, incorporating elements on Liquid Design on their interfaces.

Whatever Google is doing, it’s coming in due time. The company is hosting its annual Google I/O on May 12 to showcase new developments coming to the Android ecosystem, including its design.

Apps

iOS 26.5 will support end-to-end encryption RCS messaging

The final update should come out within the month.

Published

May 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Back in 2023, Apple finally adopted the RCS messaging standard, ensuring that iOS and Android users could communicate more seamlessly despite being on different platforms. This year, the platform is adding an improvement to the feature: end-to-end encryption.

Starting with the upcoming launch of iOS 26.5, Apple will now support end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iOS and Android users (via 9to5Mac). Besides the seamless communication, users on both platforms can start enjoying secure messaging with one another.

Apple has been testing the feature since February. Now, the company is confident enough to release the encryption technology in a new build for iOS 26.5 meant for developers. At this point, it’s just waiting for an actual release.

Why is this a big deal? Encryption adds an extra layer of security for your messages. Plus, end-to-end encryption means that messages is encrypted and decrypted only by the sender and the receiver. Third parties, which includes Apple, cannot intercept and access your information.

With the feature on, both messaging platforms on Android and iOS will show a lock icon to signify that, yes, your messages are encrypted.

Though the current build isn’t meant for end users just yet, it’s expected that iOS 26.5 will launch within the month, if not by next week.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.