End-to-End encryption expands to include Messenger Chats

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Key notes

  • Facebook Messenger is the most used chat application across the globe due to its compatibility with a lot of devices.
  • Facebook's Messenger app now uses end-to-end encryption for all messages after the company has been testing it for months. 
  • Alongside other new features, it will be on an opt-in basis and also inform you about screenshots.
How to fix Facebook Messenger not working on desktop

It has been a big year for Facebook. The social network has solidified its messaging strategy around Messenger, a standalone mobile app with more than 900 million users. If we include Facebook messages in this chat app, then it becomes even more popular.

The reason behind its increasing popularity is that it is compatible with almost all smartphones and operating systems like Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.

With a lot of the focus in messaging being on end-to-end encryption and privacy, it’s easy to think of Messenger as the place you can freely discuss anything with anyone without needing to worry about security, but that’s not entirely true.

While there are some features built in to help you protect your privacy on Facebook’s messaging platform, and it’s very easy to chat securely with people who have Messenger and are also on an encrypted messaging service like WhatsApp, there are still some limitations.

Finally, end-to-end encryption is here

Following a multi-month beta testing period, the company finally announced the availability of E2EE on the Messenger platform for everyone.

This means that all your conversations on Messenger are end-to-end encrypted, including messages you send and receive as well as the audio calls you make and video chats you have. The encryption is built into the app and applied automatically, without any action required by you or the people you’re communicating with.

The company first started testing E2EE with a limited set of users last year, when it also introduced the ability to have group voice calls on Messenger.

More features

With this new update, if you’re in a group chat, you will first have to opt-in to make a voice call or send a disappearing message to every member in that chat. When you do so, all of your messages will be end-to-end encrypted. In addition, if someone takes a screenshot of disappearing messages, Facebook will tell you about it.

The new capabilities are available to anyone on Android, and iOS users can also now enjoy these features. While using E2EE chats, you can now send messages while offline, edit and personalize photos before sending them, as well as see when someone is typing a response.

What do you make of these new features for Facebook? Does it make Facebook worth an app having? Let us know in the comment section below.