Nothing brings Apple iMessage to Android, but there’s a big catch

If Sunbird were to experience a data breach, users’ iMessage data could be compromised.

November 15, 2023 16:26 IST

Nothing brings Apple iMessage to Android, but there's a big catch

This workaround comes with its own share of security risk- users must share their Apple ID credentials with a third-party service.

With an aim to bridge the divide between Android and Apple users, Nothing has introduced a workaround that allows iMessage to be accessed on Android devices. It is called Nothing Chats. However, this workaround comes with its own share of security risk- users must share their Apple ID credentials with a third-party service.

“Nothing is the first mobile company to offer a solution to one of the biggest frustrations between Android and iOS users,” the company notes on its official page adding that the app is currently in a beta phase with more features and improvements on cards.

Nothing Chats will be powered by Sunbird allowing users to directly message other phone users from your Nothing phone via blue bubbles. It is available for Phone (2) users in the US, Canada, UK, and EU currently. Sunbird is a US tech company specialising in Android and web messaging. It operates on an architecture that avoids message storage on servers. Messages reside solely on users’ devices. Sunbird says it retains customer account emails only during activity, deleting them after two weeks of inactivity. When an Android user sends or receives an iMessage, the message is routed through Sunbird’s servers, which then relay it to the intended recipient.

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While this workaround improves cross-platform communication, it raises serious privacy and security red flags. By sharing their Apple ID credentials with Sunbird, Android users essentially grant the company access to their entire iMessage history and the ability to send and receive messages on their behalf.

The potential for misuse is evident. If Sunbird were to experience a data breach, users’ iMessage data could be compromised. Additionally, Sunbird could potentially intercept and monitor messages, posing a significant privacy threat.

The convenience of accessing iMessage on Android is undeniably appealing, especially for those who frequently communicate with iPhone users. However, the security risks associated with Nothing Chats should not be overlooked.

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This article was first uploaded on November fifteen, twenty twenty-three, at twenty-six minutes past four in the afternoon.