Google will bring end-to-end encryption to Android Message RCS service

The rich-media messaging service (RCS) that Google is promoting has made progress, at least on some Android devices, the new messaging service can replace text messages.

Users can use this messaging service to directly send audio, video, and pictures to other users through the network, so there is no need to use the MMS function provided by the operator.

RCS chat services in the Android Message app has been developed by Google itself, so Google can release updates at any time, and does not rely on operators and Android device manufacturers to provide specific updates.

So now Google brings a new feature that many users have been looking forward to for messaging services: end-to-end encryption. The use of end-to-end encryption can effectively enhance information security.

The message service delivers messages through the network, in theory, operators and Google can see the content, and end-to-end encryption can completely circumvent this problem.

When a chat is encrypted, a small padlock icon will appear in multiple places in the chat window. Image: Google

After enabling end-to-end encryption, only the two parties involved in the message conversation can decrypt the message, so neither Google nor the operator can steal and decrypt the message.

The Android Message app that supports this feature is gradually being pushed to users, so some users may already be able to use this feature, but some users cannot use it temporarily.

End-to-end encryption mainly ensures that the sender and receiver’s messages are not decrypted by a third party, but this feature is temporarily unavailable for group chats.

Supporting end-to-end encryption in group chats is still a more complicated issue, so at present, the group chats service does not support end-to-end encryption.

Via: theverge