Fanny DufourJune 16, 2021, 12:315 p.m. © Google

The Messages app on Android finally has the ability to encrypt its messages.

Google announced the feature last year, but you had to go through the beta version of Messages to access it. It is now available more generally.

How end-to-end encryption works

End-to-end encryption is currently only available for conversations between two people . It works using a secret key, generated on the device sending the message and the device of the person receiving it. It is used when sending the message to encrypt its content and is immediately destroyed. Once the message is decrypted on the recipient's device, it is also destroyed on their end. Neither Google nor any other device has access to it, and each message generates a new key.

All message content is encrypted, whether text or accompanying images and videos, meaning it will be unreadable if intercepted during delivery. Each conversation has a verification code that is the same for both people exchanging messages. It is possible to find it by opening the conversation and going to the options, then confirming it later with your interlocutor in order to verify that the protection is indeed active.

How to activate this feature?

In order to have access to it, both interlocutors must have activated the chat features, which allow you to use Wi-Fi or the mobile data network to send messages rather than the traditional network. You'll know this is the case if your sent messages appear dark blue rather than light blue.

From here, end-to-end encryption should be enabled automatically. You know if it is active if a banner is present in the conversation, which indicates with whom you are chatting and embellished with a small padlock. The send icon and message timestamp are also accompanied by a padlock.

As said before, the feature is currently not available for group messages, nor for SMS/MMS. And if your interlocutor disables chat features, your messages will no longer be secure.

Source: Mashable