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INDUSTRY, TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS and INNOVATION you want to read about

There is no doubt about WhatsApp end-to-end encryption

ccording to WhatsApp’s terms and knowledge. And vice versa – after hitting the chat can be photographed, and likewise, E2E
“Aconditions, if a user complains about ‘report’ button, WhatsApp moderators do not traffic encryption does not mean that the
inappropriate content or someone’s account, get access to all your data and collect it. They other person will not send your message to
the service then has access to their recent receive information that you provide them someone else.
messages. Numerous people have falsely with only after you ask. Hence, it’s not realistic You can read more about end-to-end
concluded that this regulation annuls end-to- to claim that WhatsApp gets access to exactly encryption and what it cannot protect against
end (E2E) encryption. five recent messages, as claimed. We conclude in our blogpost on KDaily.”
Victor Chebyshev, senior security this based only on WhatsApp’s terms and
researcher at Kaspersky, says we need to conditions; nevertheless, there is no technical
distinguish between such terms as end-to-end proof for this assumption yet.
encryption and the ‘report’ button, because Speaking of privacy concerns, it is
they are completely different algorithms. important to remember that no type of
End-to-end encryption gives the user and online communication can be absolutely
recipient a special key to unlock and read 100% private. The presence of encryption
messages. Even if the messenger provides and trust in an application are completely
end-to-end encryption, it doesn’t mean that different things – and trusting the person you
your interlocutor cannot send private messages are chatting with is a completely different
from your chat to someone else without your issue. Even the most secret and protected

CSIR co-develops composite material for one of CSIR research group leader for advanced
polymer composites, Dr Vincent Ojijo.
Africa’s largest steel pipe companies us to co-design and construct a test-rig with
“This created a conducive environment for
Hall Longmore. The project procured services
he Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a polymer composite solution from a local third-party polymer compounder
Tfor one of Africa’s largest steel pipe manufacturers, Hall Longmore, which takes them one step closer for successful industrial optimisation and
to offering the South African water industry a localised push-fit application for pressurised steel pipelines. production of test materials at scale. The
Using the DSI-CSIR Nanomaterials Industrial Development Facility, CSIR researchers developed a ultimate success of this project is credited to a
uniquely formulated polymer composite material for the steel pipe manufacturer and performed coating strong collaborative and consultative effort by
trials at their facility. the parties,” says Ojijo.
“The coating trials proved to be a success and an indication of a fruitful collaboration between The CSIR undertook preliminary research
local institutions working together to localise technology solutions for industry,” says Managing that outlined the desired developmental
Director of Hall Longmore, KC Van Rooyen. approach to be taken. This was followed by lab-
The South African-based steel pipe manufacturer imports a special polymer to coat pipes through scale material development and the technical
a fluidised bed technology. However, fluctuations in the USD/ZAR exchange rate made it increasingly validation of its performance. Concurrently, a
challenging to budget for projects. In response to this, Hall Longmore approached and contracted the lab-scale fluidised bed for rapid coating trials
CSIR to develop a composite material from locally produced polymers. was co-designed by the CSIR and Hall Longmore.
“We have expertise in formulation design, polymer modification, processing and characterisation, The company co-constructed, installed and
and an array of other capabilities that we leverage to provide our clients with a holistic solution,” says commissioned it for use in testing the developed
material. After successful lab-scale validations,
the pilot-scale optimisation process for the
developed material was completed.
The project is now in production phase at
the third-party compounder, with the steel-pipe
supplier having ordered 150 tons of the CSIR co-
developed material.
“One of the CSIR’s strategic objectives is to
collaboratively improve the competitiveness of
high-impact industries to support South Africa’s
re-industrialisation; therefore, the successful
collaboration between the CSIR and Hall
Longmore shows our commitment to supporting
South Africa’s industry and growing our impact
on the continent and around the world,” says
Dr Jan van De Loosdrecht, Cluster Executive
Manager, CSIR Future Production: Chemicals.

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