Engadget reports that the Sunbird messaging app for Android has been shut down due to significant privacy concerns, as noted by 9to5Google.
The shutdown follows increased scrutiny of the app when it entered into a partnership with Nothing to serve as the foundation for the smartphone manufacturer’s Nothing Chats app. Nothing app was available for less than a day before the mentioned privacy concerns emerged, leading to its withdrawal.
Sunbird has disappeared from the Google Play Store, though its parent company claims this closure is temporary, according to an announcement posted on Reddit.
Sunbird, a niche product, didn’t fully succeed, with Nothing’s collaboration highlighting this fact. It promised end-to-end encryption, but many users could exploit vulnerabilities to access private messages. For instance, 9to5Google found over 630,000 files exploiting this security loophole, rendering it not very secure.
Sunbird declined to answer questions about the app’s core technology and related privacy concerns, closing a Zoom chat when things got too heated, as reported by ArsTechnica. This led reporters to suggest that Sunbird simply wasn’t a “serious company.”
Apple recently announced that it would support RCS text messages in 2024, effectively eliminating the need for alternative solutions like Sunbird.
Despite the app itself being removed from the Play Store, Sunbird’s official website hasn’t mentioned anything about the shutdown and still boasts the app’s unparalleled comprehensive encryption. The company has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.
