[SunkenCiv]

Episode 245: This week's Surveillance Report covers WhatsApp's massive phone number enumeration flaw that exposed 3.5 billion users' data through poor rate limiting - potentially the largest data exposure in history. I also examine Google's new Android sideloading restrictions threatening open app distribution, the EU's concerning Digital Omnibus proposal that could significantly weaken GDPR protections, and disturbing attempts in Wisconsin and Michigan to ban VPN usage under the guise of age verification.

WhatsApp Leaked 3.5 BILLION Numbers | 36:27
Techlore | 278K subscribers | 19,001 views | November 20, 2025

https://techlore.tech/

[Bobalu]

They are likely to rile the 4chan boys with this crap...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They always use “the ‘childrun’” as cover for their totalitarian wet dreams.

(Hat-tip to Jocelyn Elders for the ‘childrun’ reference.)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

And they are going to enforce this.... exactly how?

[Salman]

This is like making it illegal to lock your front door because you might be hiding something illegal.

I assume financial institutions will be exempt?

[Vermont Lt]

How are they gonna catch ya?

[algore]

like I ever thought a VPN could not be “safe”

Sure it provides some layer of security, but if a State actor wanted to identify you and you did not take additional precautions (maybe even if you did) you can still be identified so I don’t even bother.

I actively deny alprs but the flock cams may be able to identify my cars anyway because they log type of car, color, any identifying marks such as bumper stickers or damage and all of my cars are extremely uncommon.

[MikelTackNailer]

I watched that video earlier and he had very valid points. Pretty sure VPN usage is over 50% now and we should NOT emulate totalitarian regimes like China with such legislation.

Note how, over time, the 2nd Amendment has been chipped away - going from "shall not be infringed" to literal "Minority Report" pre-crime Red Flag laws denying one's right based on other's complaining to authorities about what they think you might do.

Crippling personal cyber-security 'for the greater good' is another slide down that slippery slope that ends up doing more harm than good.