Ramdev’s WhatsApp Rival Kimbho App Seen As a Security Nightmare

Baba Ramdev’s messaging app has got into privacy trouble from day one.

Patanjali-owned messaging app has run into trouble from day one. 

(Photo: The Quint)

On Wednesday, Baba Ramdev decided to take on Facebook-owned WhatsApp with his own messaging app called Kimbho. This app was made available on the Google Play Store and Apple app store for Android and iPhone users respectively.

It has not even been 24 hours since the launch of the app, and critics have already pointed out some issues with the platform, which claims to encrypt all your messages to the highest standard.

But the reality is far from that. First of all, for some reasons unknown, the app has been taken down from the Google Play store and at the time of publishing this story. This is what we managed to get while looking for the app.

Play store has taken down the app. (Photo: Google Play store screen grab)

Kimbho - The Not-So-Safe App

While Google seems to have taken down the app, we can still see Kimbho listed on the Apple app store. Now if there was any privacy concerns with the app then Apple would have been the first to take it down, somehow that hasn’t been done yet.

Kimbho app still on the Apple app store. (Photo: The Quint)

Speaking of privacy, the Kimbho app seems to have opened a can of worms that is driving privacy experts around the bend. A known security researcher, who goes by the alias Elliot Anderson on Twitter, has raised concerns about the messaging app, which is picking up user data and sharing it with anyone who’s got the knowledge to take it apart.

He’s even blasted the app developer for being lackadaisical in its approach towards privacy of the app.

But the most damning assessment from Anderson comes, when he says the “Kimbho app is a security disaster”.

Everything Looks Messy

Now that we’ve talked about the privacy part of the Kimbho messaging app, it’s time to look at its background and who is the maker of the app.

After looking up the details of the developer, we stumbled onto something which leaves us confused. The app, which Patanjali Communications claims to be the owner of, shows Appdios Inc listed as the developer on the Apple app store.

How Kimbho app is listed on the Apple app store. (Photo: Apple app store screen grab)

But wait, there’s a small twist here. Apparently, the Kimbho app seems to be borrowing lot of elements, and even its description from another messaging app called Bolo Messenger, which coincidentally has also been made by Appdios Inc.

Everything looks similar to the listing of the Kimbho app. (Photo: app store screen grab)

Even their description has been literally copy-pasted by whoever has designed the app and listed it on the app store.

Bolo Messenger and Kimbho app have the same description. Photo: App store screen grab)

And if that doesn’t give you something to ponder, then try heading to the privacy policy page or even the website of the developer.

Looks like everyone is curious to know more about Appdios.(Photo: Appdios screen grab)

We’re trying to connect with Appdios, which according to multiple listings on the internet puts them as a US-based software startup, owned by Indian-origin persons Aditi Kamal and Sumit Kamal.

There are more questions that need to be answered by the developers. Watch this space as we get you more information on Kimbho and its origins.