Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Facebook Messenger To Get End-To-End Encryption

Posted by msmash on from the affinity-for-privacy dept.

Reader wiredmikey writes: Facebook announced Friday it would roll out optional "end to end encryption" for its Messenger application, following a trend aimed at stronger security and protection against snooping. The new feature will be known as "secret conversations" which can be read only by the sender and recipient. Facebook shared technical details about its implementation of the security in a technical white paper (PDF). Facebook earlier this year began implementing this end-to-end encryption on its WhatsApp messaging service.ZDNet's Zack Whittaker, however, warns about a catch in Facebook's effort. He writes: But already the company has faced some criticism for not encrypting messages by default, instead making the service opt-in, like Apple's iMessage, or even Facebook's other chat app, WhatsApp, which recently switched on default end-to-end encryption earlier this year. Cryptographer and Johns Hopkins professor Matthew Green, who reviewed an early version of the system, said in a tweet that though you "have to turn on encryption per thread," he added that providing encryption to almost a billion people makes it hard to "put that genie back in the bottle."

4 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. To my knowledge messenger unlike whatsapp by MarkH · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Keeps a copy on fb servers. So this change is cosmetic

  2. Re:This would imply by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If only important messages were encrypted, every bad person would instantly know which ones he should decrypt.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  3. Re:This would imply by gsslay · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You are absolutely right. What you put on Facebook is of no value whatsoever. You have nothing to regret giving it to us. We just like collecting meaningless chatter and none of our client advertisers have the slightest interest in it. Nothing to worry your little heads over, nothing to see here.

    - Mark Zuckerberg

  4. Re:Why use we keep secrets? by The-Ixian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Do you close the door to the bathroom stall when you take a dump?

    Do you have passwords on any of your accounts?

    Do you make your SS or CC numbers known to the world?

    Privacy is a protection.

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.