WhatsApp Adds End-to-End Encryption! What Does that Mean for You?

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 07 Apr 2016

The web is abuzz with news about Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp and how it added end-to-end encryption.

If you know what that means, then you understand it’s a great new feature that secures your communications and protects your privacy. If you don’t know what that means, then let me address any questions you may have about this topic.


What’s end-to-end encryption?


Say you want to send a message to Bob. The message is encrypted on your end, transmitted in encrypted form, and then decrypted on Bob’s end. Only you and Bob can read the message. No one else can read or access it.

Cybercriminals and hackers won’t be able to steal your information, would-be snoopers won’t be able to access your messages. Not even WhatsApp will be access your messages. You have total and complete privacy.


What does end-to-end encryption cover?

In a word, everything. WhatsApp encrypts written and voice messages, calls, photos, videos, and any files you want to send to others. Every conversation you have with your WhatsApp friends is encrypted. Every time you send something to your friends, it is encrypted.


How do I enable end-to-end encryption?

Since this a major new feature, it is enabled by default in the latest WhatsApp version. So if you have the latest version of WhatsApp, you don’t need to do anything; end-to-end encryption is enabled by default.

Go get the latest WhatsApp release here. And tell your friends to do the same! Encryption is active only if all chat participants have the latest WhatsApp version. Talking to someone who doesn’t have the latest release means you’re not being protected by end-to-end encryption. If just one person in a group chat does not have the encryption activated, the entire chat is unsecured.


How do I check to see if a chat is secure?

Say you’re chatting with Bob and you want to make sure your chat is secure. Just click on Bob’s name at the top of the chat. The menu that shows up will tell you if the chat is secure or not. Like this.




Who benefits from this?

You do! You and all the other WhatsApp users out there, all one billion of them.

Back in 2014, when Facebook purchased WhatsApp for about $19 billion, Mark Zuckerberg predicted that the messaging app will eventually connect 1 billion people. That happened in February 2016. On February 1, WhatsApp announced that it surpassed the 1 billion users mark.

“That's nearly one in seven people on Earth who use WhatsApp each month to stay in touch with their loved ones, their friends and their family,” said WhatsApp. “We are proud of this milestone, and we're humbled by the extraordinary ways all of you have used WhatsApp. Whether it's sharing vital information during natural disasters or health emergencies, finding a date, growing a small business, buying an engagement ring, or seeking a better life – we're honored to be a small part of what people are doing to make their lives and the lives of those around them better.”


Why does this encryption stuff matter?

“We live in a world where more of our data is digitized than ever before. Every day we see stories about sensitive records being improperly accessed or stolen. And if nothing is done, more of people's digital information and communication will be vulnerable to attack in the years to come. Fortunately, end-to-end encryption protects us from these vulnerabilities,” said WhatsApp founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton.

I have to remind you that Mozilla is running an awareness campaign that aims to educate people on the importance of encryption. As part of this campaign, Mozilla published several through-provoking videos that do a proper job of explaining why encryption matters. Go check them out.


How did WhatsApp implement end-to-end encryption?

If you want to read an in-depth technical explanation of how WhatsApp developed and implemented end-to-end encryption, then I invite you to read this white paper (PDF).


In related news...


There’s one other messaging app that takes privacy and security seriously, using powerful encryption to secure your messages: Telegram.



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