whatsapp Vs wechat

[t12349876t]

I'm surprised that in Australia more massage places don't offer comms through WhatsApp rather than WeChat. I know WeChat is big in Asia and the shops are often run by asians.

To me I don't have WeChat and don't trust their data privacy at all. Unfortunately this limits me in shops to go to given I don't want texts popping up.

Is this just me being an old fuddyduddy or are others surprised to?

[madness123]

Why not just ring to make appointments. Sounds old fashioned but it always works for me. I only ever used wechat for CBD360 before it got so badly broken. ( I mean the shop, not wechat)

[KongFuPunter]

If you enquire via txt message when booking shops, some will also send you pics and info via other means eg locanto links.

[KongFuPunter]

I'm surprised that in Australia more massage places don't offer comms through WhatsApp rather than WeChat. I know WeChat is big in Asia and the shops are often run by asians.

To me I don't have WeChat and don't trust their data privacy at all. Unfortunately this limits me in shops to go to given I don't want texts popping up.

Is this just me being an old fuddyduddy or are others surprised to?

You also have the option when making a phone booking to ask directly for pics via txt or links eg if they have a Locanto account

[asam46]

I use WeChat and have I don’t know how many shops on there as contacts. Many, many shops post daily updates with photos of girls, so basically 24/7 you have got images popping up in your feed of hot girls and a surprisingly large number use real photos of the girls. That’s why I use it.

[oden]

Wish all shops would just choose the same platform whatever it is. Currently have wechat on an old burner phone for the data security reason....if tiktok is spying on kids then wechat feels like it's actively building a kompromat database for guys like us 😅

[11Bravo]

I'm surprised that in Australia more massage places don't offer comms through WhatsApp rather than WeChat. I know WeChat is big in Asia and the shops are often run by asians.

To me I don't have WeChat and don't trust their data privacy at all. Unfortunately this limits me in shops to go to given I don't want texts popping up.

Is this just me being an old fuddyduddy or are others surprised to?
Fuddyduddy. I'm surprised some DON'T use it.

Having traveled a bit in the PRC, my fingerprints, face print, etc. well known to the govt. Having been there, you easily understand how ubiquitous WeChat is, and how useful. Why change what works?

Besides, I feel it is my PATRIOTIC duty to use. You see, I'm NOT a govt employee, a company mucky-muck, anyone important, no security clearance. So I'm happy to be that one TINY bit of clutter that has to be processed, doing my LITTLE bit to obscure those that matter.

Seriously, because I understand that chats can be monitored, I'm careful of what I say (e.g. no references to Winnie the Pooh). Not that it would effect me, but the people I'm chatting with. But it makes it so easy to contact shops, keep in touch with regulars, see daily rosters, etc. Calling? Maybe the phone doesn't get answered, or the booking not written. Messaging gets processed when they have time (very quickly most often), and there's a written record.

I don't bother with burners, or separate accounts, just too much overhead. One Wechat account for both pros and civilians.

I feel it's safe. Besides, I appreciate the help offered by the Powers that Be: "Hey, B, seems that mole on your neck has changed color; you should have that looked at". "B, you seem to have put on a few kg's, you exercising enough?"

[Rogerram]

I prefer wechat as I can set my ID and name to whatever I want and the shop doesn't know who I am. Do you really want them to see your name that you use on whatsapp that all your family and friends see? Also then they have your mobile number too...

If you are just using wechat to talk to and browse shops, it seems like a much safer and anonymous option to me.

[jaquedm1307]

"You see, I'm NOT a govt employee, a company mucky-muck, anyone important, no security clearance. So I'm happy to be that one TINY bit of clutter that has to be processed, doing my LITTLE bit to obscure those that matter."


11 B has hit the nail on the head with 'anyone important' with all due respect that probably covers most of us here and if you are important then you'll probably have gurus guiding you're IT usage which you'll probably ignore anyway.

Spent 7 years working for a big finance organisation involved in international online fraud and it becomes clear if those 'bad guys' really want intel &/or ID info from you they're going to get it. Son unless you're a government agent with high level access, a political activist, or have 6-7 figure balances in your current account you are probably overthinking whether or not to use wechat.

Romance scams - one guy handing over $650K in a few months to mining prospectors in SE Asia

Straight simple phishing emails leading to fake financial institutions websites to gather username and passwords - accounts then emptied into other hacked accounts

Selling non existent shipping containers on eBay / gumtree money being laundered through innocent 3rd party who had set up a 'apartment rental' website guided by the same fraudsters who advised them the payments were deposits and had then forward the funds to fraudulently controlled accounts sold to the fraudsters by departing overseas students after they no longer needed and had cleared the accounts

Saw a couple of profiles compiled by the fraudsters on potential targets where they had gathered user names and passwords on multiple platforms the targets used - stored in files on an unsecured website for a Baptist church in southern USA

Hawala style fraud where funds didn't need to leave country so government tracking was not a problem

Just food for thought.

[fted]

I prefer wechat as I can set my ID and name to whatever I want and the shop doesn't know who I am. Do you really want them to see your name that you use on whatsapp that all your family and friends see? Also then they have your mobile number too...

If you are just using wechat to talk to and browse shops, it seems like a much safer and anonymous option to me.

This is the correct answer.

[woodland]

i find it incredibly humorous that you guys don't think the NSA is collecting data from backdoors in Facebook, WhatsApp and Gmail.

[t12349876t]

You're absolutely right that everything we do and say is likely being tracked by someone. But the lack of end to end encryption on wechat is a dealbreaker.

To contact shops I only have 1 number I can call/text from so I don't want that going out. Instead I have a 2nd burner account on WhatsApp from years ago I can still access. Id love to use that to set up bookings. Since most shops don't use WhatsApp I mostly just roll the dice and turn up.

[GoldfishMan]

You're absolutely right that everything we do and say is likely being tracked by someone. But the lack of end to end encryption on wechat is a dealbreaker.

To contact shops I only have 1 number I can call/text from so I don't want that going out. Instead I have a 2nd burner account on WhatsApp from years ago I can still access. Id love to use that to set up bookings. Since most shops don't use WhatsApp I mostly just roll the dice and turn up.

E2EE doesn't keep you safe if the platform itself is compromised. Eg. If you're implicated in a crime and the platform is prodded by the authorities to show them all your messages, they can do it. And WhatsApp being part of Meta/Zuckerberg, you bet your ass they will just to keep their squeaky clean PR.

Or the recipient can be compromised in N number of ways, eg. Hacked, phone stolen, someone looking over their shoulder etc.

At the end of the day, do no evil, fear no evil. If you have a clear conscience, why would you be so scared of being snooped for just booking a WL?

It's a bit ironic. I often find it very difficult to trust anyone like this, people who don't trust anyone else unless they have all the promises of encryption, etc. Their own feeling of distrust actually cultivates distrust towards themselves, because it says that they have a lot to hide.

[11Bravo]

Son unless you're a government agent with high level access, a political activist, or have 6-7 figure balances in your current account you are probably overthinking whether or not to use wechat.

Hawala style fraud where funds didn't need to leave country so government tracking was not a problem
Now hold on there... I DO have a 7 figure balance: $0000101.20
Damn, I must be in danger.

I knew a number of PRC's who used Hawala to xfer funds; you're right, no record.


Eg. If you're implicated in a crime ...

At the end of the day, do no evil, fear no evil. If you have a clear conscience, why would you be so scared of being snooped for just booking a WL?
Once, again, DAMN. Just the other day, a WG told me it was a crime I was so good looking...

Actually, I don't blend in. In the past 3 days, in 3 different civilian shops, it was, "Brad... you're back..." Not blending in, easily remembered, is both a blessing and a curse.