Tag Archives: encryption

Smartphones

These iPhone Apps Let You Hide Messages And Chat Privately

Signal has end-to-end encryption (E2EE) primarily based on the open-source Signal Protocol, enabling it to supply encrypted calls and chats. It has a wide range of privateness options, akin to disappearing messages and view-once media, and it even prevents screenshots from being taken. The developer behind the app additionally claims that there isn’t a monitoring or sharing of person information, and no adverts or affiliate marketing online. Signal additionally presents proxy assist.

Signal is really helpful to be used by the U.S. army, and the developer claims that its app is commonly utilized by U.S. senators and their employees, in addition to American allies within the EU Commission. Apart from iOS, iPadOS, and Android, Signal can also be out there for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Note that to make use of the desktop app, customers will first have to put in the app on their smartphone. This is as a result of, regardless of the quite a few safety features it presents, it requires a telephone quantity to make use of — not like Threema. For an in depth take a look at Signal, see our guide on everything you need to know concerning the app.

Smartphones

Increasing the Security of Your Android Phone

Most newer Android phones come with encryption enabled by default, which enhances security. However, if you’re using an older phone or have performed a factory reset, you may need to manually enable encryption on your device.

To encrypt your phone, follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to Settings on your Android device.
  2. Scroll down and tap on Security (the exact location may vary depending on your device).
  3. Find an option that says Encrypt phone or Encrypt tablet. If you see this option, it means your device is not yet encrypted. Tap on it and follow the provided instructions to encrypt your device.

It is important to note that the encryption process may take an hour or longer, and it is recommended to keep your device plugged in during the process to prevent any interruptions. Once your device is encrypted, all the data on it will be unreadable to anyone without the correct decryption key.

Smartphones

8 Ways To Improve the Security of Your Android Phone

In the year 2023, encryption has become a necessary tool, and many Android apps have integrated it. When people think of encryption, messaging apps like WhatsApp often come to mind. These apps use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to ensure that only the intended recipients can read the messages on their devices. Even Google’s stock SMS app with RCS support includes this feature, keeping your messages secure. However, encryption goes beyond messaging apps. There are various other aspects of your phone that you can encrypt.

Thankfully, Google has taken care of many encryption requirements by default. All the data backed up from your phone to your Google account is encrypted, giving you a safe option for storing information. Additionally, most email clients use Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, providing secure email communication. Google Drive and 2FAS also use encryption to enhance security. For those who want to take extra measures, options like Proton Mail offer stronger encryption than most email clients, while Resilio Sync allows you to host your own cloud backup.

Encrypting everything on your phone is not currently possible without significant effort. Fortunately, most of your sensitive information is already encrypted by default, leaving only a few areas that require attention. It is still worth the time to review your phone and identify anything that can be backed up or encrypted to enhance privacy.

News, Technology

Meta Expands Messenger E2E Encryption With Full Launch Coming Soon

Implementing end-to-end encryption was a challenging task that took several years to complete. In a blog post, Meta explains that the process involved transitioning to a new server architecture and rewriting the code base to work across multiple devices, rather than just the server. Meta had to rebuild over 100 features on top of the updated code stack to support encryption. One example given is the integration of rich URL previews, which were previously pulled by Meta’s servers. Now, the Messenger app itself visits the shared URL, retrieves the necessary information, and displays the preview. Although this adds a bit of extra time, the entire feature pipeline has been redesigned to accommodate end-to-end encryption without compromising on functionality and privacy.

In addition, Meta is testing an on-device recovery option for encrypted chats. This feature requires users to set up a PIN or generate a code. Meta is also exploring the option of enabling users to save these chats on a third-party cloud storage service like Apple’s iCloud. While end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages is currently in the testing phase, Meta’s safety chief, Antigone Davis, mentioned in an article for The Telegraph that the chat privacy feature will be implemented for Instagram DMs by the end of 2023.