Ramdev's app 'Kimbho' disappears from playstore, expert calls it 'a joke'
New Delhi, May 31 : Yoga guru Ramdev's so-called "swadeshi" messaging app "Kimbho" that aimed to take on the giant WhatsApp abruptly disappeared on Thursday from Google Play Store amid security and "heavy traffic" concerns.
Several Android users took to Twitter and Facebook, displaying their frustration in downloading the app from Play Store. Some fake iterations of "Kimbho" app and even a "Kimbho" messenger too appeared on Play Store, leading to more confusion.
"We are facing extremely high traffic on Kimbho. We are in process of upgrading our servers and will be back shortly. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please stay tuned," tweeted the "Kimbho" app team.
Kimbho is a Sanskrit word and according to Patanjali's spokesperson SK Tijarawala, it means "How are you? or What's new?"
"Now WhatsApp will be given a competition. Our own #SwadeshiMessagingplatform. Download it directly from Google Play store," tweeted Tijarawala on Wednesday. But the day one experience raised several concerns, including security.
Famous French security researcher who goes by the name of Elliot Alderson called "Kimbho" a security disaster on Twitter.
"Ok, I will stop here. The #Kimbho #android #app is a security disaster. I can access the messages of all the users," he tweeted.
"The @KimbhoApp is a copy paste of another #application. The description and the screenshots in the app stores are the same. Moreover, the #Kimbho app is making request to bolomessenger[.]com," the security researcher added, advising people not to install the app.
"This @KimbhoApp is a joke, next time before making press statements, hire competent developers... If it is not clear, for the moment don't install this app," Anderson further tweeted.
The Patanjali app guide available on Play Store also failed to get users to download the app. While clicking on how to download Kimbho app inside the guide, the message popped up: "We are sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server.
Most of those who succeeded in downloading the app thrashed the experience.
"first make it robust and fix all bugs then launch," tweeted one user. "Even a 12th grade kid can build a better app than this," said another.
A mail sent to Google for the sudden disappearance of the app went unanswered. However, the app was still seen on iOS App Store.
According to Faisal Kawoosa, Head New Initiatives, CyberMedia Research (CMR), it will not be easy for "Kimbho" to create a space dominated by WhatsApp by just on being "Swadeshi."
"So far, just around 5k installations and reviews are full of issues and concerns. Nevertheless, seems Patanjali is getting serious about communications," Kawoosa tweeted.
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Karnataka HM G Parameshwara blames EVM for Cong debacle in Maharashtra, backs ballot papers
BENGALURU: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Monday alleged Electronic Voting Machine manipulations led to the defeat of Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in just concluded assembly polls in Maharashtra.
While speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said the BJP does selective manipulations to convince people that there were no wrongdoings. He also wanted to go back to the paper ballots system.
The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra won a landslide victory in the assembly elections, shattering the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi's dream to wrest power. The BJP won the highest ever 132 seats for the party, while the Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 57 seats and NCP won 41 seats to take the Mahayuti total to 230 seats. Congress as part of MVA won just 16 seats.
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"We analysed the Maharashtra poll outcome deeply. We felt that in many places EVMs were manipulated," Parameshwara said. He also said an obvious question would be why not it happened in Jharkhand and elsewhere. The manipulations are done selectively so that no one can question it, he blamed.
According to him, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is a leading partner. Had the Congress been the leading partner, things would have changed. He backed the ballot papers saying that the same was discussed in Maharashtra Congress as well.
