Facebook has started rolling out a new feature on WhatsApp. The new feature improves privacy within the messaging app with chat backups Butt to tip to encrypt.
WhatsApp has become the messaging app of choice, thanks in large part to the private policy – although this is sometimes undermined by some kind of violation or simply by the plans of the parent company, Facebook social networking site. Several years ago, the app introduced end-to-end encryption of conversations to ensure the confidentiality of exchanges. Without the encryption key, messages cannot be hacked by a hacker or any authority, but there is a catch: backups of conversations stored on online spaces like Google Drive or iCloud don’t have the same level of security. Fortunately, that is about to change.
Facebook has been working for several months to enhance the security of online backups of WhatsApp chats. The American company has just started rolling out this new feature. Facebook warns that the rollout will be “slow”. So be patient.
But what exactly will change?
The WhatsApp It will allow its users to encrypt the backup copies of their conversations end-to-end before they are stored on online spaces, such as iCloud or Google Drive. This way it is protected from potential hacking and can only be accessed using the encryption key.
When the option becomes available, users will be required to register a 64-digit encryption key or create a password associated with this key to protect their backups. This password will ensure that they do not have to remember the encryption key. The encryption key is stored in Facebook’s Hardware Security Module (HSM) and can only be accessed through the registered password.
In this way, it will not be possible to force WhatsApp to hand over the conversation encryption key, as Apple can do with iMessage under pressure from the authorities. “Neither WhatsApp nor the backup service provider will be able to read your backups or access the key needed to unlock them,” Facebook said.
How do I enable end-to-end encrypted backup?
When the option becomes available here – in the coming weeks – simply follow the steps below to activate it:
- Click Discussions > Backup/Save Discussions > Encrypted End-to-End Backup.
- Click Continue and follow the instructions to create a password or key.
- Tap Done and wait for WhatsApp to set up the end-to-end encrypted backup.
(bzz)
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