WhatsApp now has end-to-end encryption

Victor Barreiro Jr.

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WhatsApp now has end-to-end encryption
Whatsapp: 'The idea is simple: when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to. No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us.'

MANILA, Philippines – Privacy-conscious messaging is becoming more popular with the heightened debate on encryption and civil liberties. To that end, the Whatsapp messaging service now uses end-to-end encryption for all of its messages. 

The announcement came late Tuesday, April 5, from Open Whisper Systems, which partnered with WhatsApp to integrate the Signal Protocol into the messaging service.

Open Whisper Systems explained that it has been “progressively rolling out Signal Protocol support for all WhatsApp communication across all WhatsApp clients. This includes chats, group chats, attachments, voice notes, and voice calls across Android, iPhone, Windows Phone, Nokia S40, Nokia S60, Blackberry, and BB10.” 

A separate announcement post from WhatsApp simplifies the explanation: “The idea is simple: when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to. No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us.”

Users on the latest versions of WhatsApp on any platform can now receive full end-to-end encryption for all their messages and every WhatsApp call they make. 

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has around one billion users, according to a February announcement.

More information on the transition from unencrypted to encrypted chat (as adoption of the latest WhatsApp versions increases) and the verification method for ensuring encrypted chat is working is available on the Open Whisper Systems blog post. – Rappler.com

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Victor Barreiro Jr.

Victor Barreiro Jr is part of Rappler's Central Desk. An avid patron of role-playing games and science fiction and fantasy shows, he also yearns to do good in the world, and hopes his work with Rappler helps to increase the good that's out there.