If you use Whatsapp - and let's face it, everyone uses Whatsapp - the chances are that you'll have noticed a little yellow message cropping up in your group chat.
According to the update, 'Messages you send to this chat and calls are now secured with end-to-end encryption.' But what does this actually mean, and why should we care? If you're worried about your online privacy and who's accessing your data, it turns out that Whatsapp's latest measures are pretty important.
What does the Whatsapp encryption message mean?
Put simply, the changes mean that third parties cannot access anything you send or receive over Whatsapp. So, your messages are unreadable if they're intercepted by hackers - or by the police or the government.
In a statement, the company explained that 'no one can see inside [your] message. Not cyber criminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us.'
Whatsapp already encrypted some messages sent on the app, but this update means that nothing - from photos and videos to group chats and voice calls - can be intercepted by third parties.
What is end-to-end encryption?
End-to-end encryption scrambles your messages as soon as they leave your smartphone. That means that your messages, images and phone calls can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. As Whatsapp puts it ‘your messages are secured with a lock and only the recipient and you have the special key needed to unlock and read them.’
How will it affect me?
The service is now more secure, making it near-impossible for hackers to access your private messages and data - even Whatsapp itself can't access messages sent across its own service. Anything you send using the app will only be accessed by the intended recipient. With over one billion users, Whatsapp is the biggest messaging app in the world, meaning that the implications will be widespread.
What do I need to do to enable encryption?
Absolutely nothing. There’s no need to enable any special settings as long as you’re using the most recent version of the messaging app.
Why have the changes been introduced?
Whatsapp has described protecting its users' privacy as one of its 'core beliefs.' Encryption and online security hit the headlines when Apple faced off against the FBI over the case of California gunman Syed Farook. When the security services asked the brand to help break into Farook's iPhone, Apple argued that doing so would weaken its encryption services - as a master key that unlocks all iPhones could be exploited by criminals or governments. CEO Tim Cook went as far as describing such a move as setting a 'dangerous precedent.'
So, in introducing end-to-end encryption, Whatsapp are essentially preventing any similar legal battles from happening in the future - not even the company will be able to access or decode messages sent.
Is there a downside?
There are some fears that this move by Whatsapp will allow terrorists to send messages that can't be tracked by governments or security services, Realistically, though, it's likely that criminals already use other, illegal, methods of doing just that. Instead, Whatsapp's latest move makes your online communication far more secure.
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