Is your cargo logistics data safe?

Earlier this week, WhatsApp released an updated app that caused a bit of a stir on social media. Interestingly, the update did not deliver anything new, nor did it break anything. It just made it very clear that WhatsApp is owned by Facebook in the opening ‘splash screen’. Nothing new. It has been part of Facebook since 2014.

Still, this update did not go unnoticed, and maybe you wondered - like I did - “What does this actually mean for my use and data on the app?” Facebook’s reputation is not spotless.

Facebook tries to put us at ease, boasting end-to-end encryption of all messages. But are there any exceptions to that? For one, as a US company, some access to the US government may need to be granted. 

That may or may not concern you, but it may require some backdoors. But more importantly, while encryption goes a long way, the WhatsApp use terms contain the following cryptic message:

"Our Services may allow you to access, use, or interact with third-party websites, apps, content, other products and services, and Facebook Company Products. […] When you use third-party services or Facebook Company Products, their own terms and privacy policies will govern your use of those services."

Now, I am no lawyer or security expert. Still, there is the technical possibility that while the end-to-end encryption applies to WhatsApp, data can be accessed fully by another Facebook app. As for those other apps, different terms may apply; I do wonder if my data is safe.

Can Cargosnap help the supply chain secure cargo data?

We also encrypt your data in transit and rest. Still, that does not mean no one can see the content; in fact, the whole purpose of storing information in Cargosnap is to see and share the information of visual cargo inspection. So as you share data, it refers to the activity you initiate as a Cargosnap user – not to us.

Our abilities to use and share the data are relatively simple, as you can read in our terms: we will not sell or share any of the content. This means you, the user of Cargosnap, are in charge of your content and data.

Full disclosure: do I see WhatsApp as a Cargosnap competitor?

Well, ‘kinda’... We do see companies using it. And I can get where that is coming from; it’s free, easy to use, and installed on many phones. Still, many users of the tool stop using it after seeing Cargosnap. For various reasons:

• Productivity
  It was built for logistics, with built-in features such as the barcode/QR code scan, features for container condition and seals, and structured forms. Cargosnap allows users to create workflows ensuring all required data is captured for every file. Those features are all missing in a messaging app, reducing inspection and information retrieval speed and quality.
  
  And I bet you do not want your employees to use a highly distracting tool. How many cat movies will be viewed during working hours?

• Image quality
  WhatsApp dramatically reduces the quality of images. That is fine when viewing an image on a mobile phone, but what if you need to zoom in on something specific? Cargosnap retains very high-quality images. These images can be used in shares and reports for a professional look and feel.

• Quality cargo control
  Where does the data go, as users sharing an incident on WhatsApp between colleagues are just 2 clicks away from sharing it outside your company? Without any track/trace of who sees what.

We believe there are logical reasons why logistics companies use WhatsApp, but usually, they are functionally on a different level from Cargosnap. The balance may become clear with the concerns about what your data is used for.