WhatsApp Adds End-to-End Encryption To One Billion Users

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There is a new free encryption app that also allows access from home computers for full encryption of messages. It is free and I am still checking it out. One big thing in their favor is they have a Windows phone 8.1 and 10 App, not just iOS or Android.

 

Excerpt:

 

"The world’s largest online communications company WhatsApp, with one billion users, announced Tuesday it added end-to-end encryption to its entire platform. The move is seen as a major win for security and privacy advocates. It also shifts the encryption spotlight away from Apple and its battle with the FBI and thrusts the Facebook-owned WhatsApp center stage.

 

Co-founders of WhatsApp, Brian Acton and Jan Koum, announced the move on the company’s blog Tuesday stating it has implemented end-to-end encryption across its entire network for all mobile platforms.

 

From now on when you and your contacts use the latest version of the app, every call you make, and every message, photo, video, file, and voice message you send, is end-to-end encrypted by default, including group chats,” wrote Acton and Koum.

 

WhatsApp has been slowly adding encryption to its platform since 2013, but Tuesday marks the completion of the company’s efforts bringing end-to-end encryption to its entire user base. WhatsApp worked with Open Whisper Systems to develop the encryption technology and will use the not-for-profit hacker collective’s Signal Protocol for WhatsApp clients.

 

“Over the past year, we’ve 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,” wrote Open Whisper Systems founder, Moxie Marlinspike.

 

In an email interview with Threatpost, Marlinspike said that the version of encryption WhatsApp is using will have no back doors – meaning that WhatsApp would not be able to decrypt communication.

 

“WhatsApp is using the Signal Protocol, a modern, open source, forward secure, strong encryption protocol for asynchronous messaging systems, designed by Open Whisper Systems,” Marlinspike told Threatpost.

 

“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,” wrote Acton and Koum."

 

See the whole article here: https://threatpost.com/whatsapp-adds-end-to-end-encryption-to-one-billion-users/117213/

 

The company website is here: https://www.whatsapp.com/

 

Caution, This app only works on WiFi, read the FAQs as it may be most suitable for part time RVrs with a good WiFi connection in a Stix and brix.