Google brings end-to-end encryption for the Messages app out of beta
Google announces a new feature for Messages. (Source: Google)
Google has been testing the ability to send texts, files and photos through its Messages service with end-to-end encryption for some time. Now, it has announced that it is to become available for the stable version of this app. The Mountain View giant claims that it results in messaged content that stays between 2 people in the same chat.
Google has been expanding its range of SMS-style messaging services, presumably to keep step with other services such as WhatsApp, Telegram and, of course, the iOS equivalent. They include RCS and its associated end-to-end encryption feature that has been part of the Messages beta for a while now.
The Mountain View giant's updated support material advises users that messages with this level of encryption will show up in a dark shade of blue, whereas those without it will be in the normal light blue.
Messages with end-to-end encryption will also exhibit a new miniature lock icon along with their Send buttons and timestamps. Google asserts that this new facility ensures that content stays between a sender and recipient (and no-one else) thanks to on-device "secret keys".
They are generated for each individual encrypted message, and are deleted once a message reaches a recipient's phone. To use the new feature, both parties on the Messages app need to enable its chat features and ensure RCS is on via mobile data or Wi-Fi.
Deirdre O'Donnell - Senior Tech Writer - 5992 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
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