End-to-end encryption of messages in Whatsapp. WhatsApp has enabled encryption for all users Whatsapp end-to-end encryption how to read messages
In the description of WhatsApp messenger It is stated that it works on the principle of end-to-end encryption. This feature is considered one of the main advantages of the program. But not all users understand what is behind such a name. For many people, the logical question will be: “What is WhatsApp end-to-end encryption?”
Peculiarities
In classic messengers, the following scheme of correspondence between users is as follows: a message is sent from the first device to the developer’s server, and from there it is delivered to the recipient. In modern applications, which include WhatsApp, it is slightly changed.
Now the message is encrypted on the smartphone before it is sent. It comes to the server not in the form of typed text, but in the form of symbols that are chaotic to humans. From there, the message is redirected to the recipient’s smartphone or tablet, where it is decrypted. An encryption key is a sequence of characters that defines the “alphabet” of the cipher. This is some form of alphabet. But in the case of WhatsApp, the key is unique for each device. More precisely, there are two of them: the first is responsible for converting text when sending, the second - when receiving.
It is possible to hack such a system only if you know this WhatsApp encryption key. And it is recorded directly on the user’s device. This is modern protection in the messenger.
Setting up end-to-end encryption
WhatsApp developers do not provide for disabling end-to-end encryption. This is even mentioned on the official website of the application. This decision is quite logical, because the safety and security of personal information has always been important to users. And if you deactivate this function, then the security will go away.
However, it is worth mentioning that not everything is so categorical. If you are looking for how to remove end-to-end encryption in WhatsApp, then there is such a way. It is enough to install the old version of WhatsApp on your smartphone or tablet, where this function was absent.
But in this case, no one can guarantee that strangers will not get into your correspondence. It should be taken into account that for installation old versions the program will need to disable protection on the mobile device.
In the case of Android, everything is simple, just activate the “Install from unknown sources” mode in the developer settings menu. But for iOS you will need a jailbreak - a hacking option - which can lead to damage to your iPhone or iPad.
Attention: on official page WhatsApp is missing a section where you can find old versions. This means that you will have to download the application from third-party resources that may contain viruses.
What is encryption in WhatsApp? This question has become popular recently due to the fact that on many smartphones in the messenger of the same name a window has appeared with the text: “The messages you send to this chat and calls are now protected by encryption. Find out more." This is due to the program update: the developer introduced a full data encryption system to ensure the security of its clients.
What is encryption on WhatsApp?
How does the protection of information inside the chat work after the innovation? Encryption - that is, reversible recoding of data - occurs using end-to-end encryption technology. This is end-to-end encryption of messages in WhatsApp, thanks to which no one, even employees of the development company, will be able to read absolutely nothing that is written in the chat. A conversation on WhatsApp is encrypted regardless of the number of participants: from two in a personal conversation to many in a group correspondence.
Thus, it is easy to answer the question of what it means on WhatsApp: “Messages and calls are protected by encryption.” There is nothing negative about this update. For the first time, such technology was used in the Telegram application. Pavel Durov, who owns this product, launched the updated version after learning from Edward Snowden's messages about the massive wiretapping of calls and viewing messages of US citizens by their own intelligence agencies. Durov considered it necessary to invent a method that would qualitatively increase the level of user protection, and launched the end-to-end encryption conversion.
It is important to note that in WhatsApp data encryption occurs at all levels: encryption is relevant not only for text, but also for all multimedia files: photos, music, videos. Moreover, new version The utility even encrypts voice calls.
How to enable WhatsApp encryption
The message that encryption of WhatsApp correspondence is enabled did not appear for all users. Therefore, users who are familiar with the latest news in the world software, are wondering: how to encrypt a message on WhatsApp? How to configure this feature? In fact, no tricky manipulations are required. Anyone who has updated to the latest version has already enabled encryption. This means that the feature now works by default.
In June 2016, almost all users of Android smartphones and iPhone owners have this update ( operating system ios). But to make sure that end-to-end encryption is happening, it's worth checking your version. To do this, you need to go into the settings and make sure that the “Encryption” column appears there.
How to remove encryption in WhatsApp?
If for some reason the user wants to undo the re-encoding of his web data, he wonders how to disable encryption in WhatsApp. At this stage, this is impossible, since such a desire - to delete, turn off, remove recoding - in principle has no logical basis.
If it is vital for the user, the update can simply be canceled by rolling back the entire system. It is important not to forget to uncheck the auto-update option for this program so that history does not repeat itself.
How do I enable security notifications?
To do this you need:
So, the new final processing of information from the WhatsApp developers is a great way to make your smartphone more secure and protect yourself from web attacks aimed at monitoring personal information.
The messages you send to this chat and your calls are now protected by encryption. This way WhatsApp and third parties do not have access to them. Many people saw this window WhatsApp users recently, including me.
What does this mean for us? Now communication via WhatsApp, thanks to end-to-end encryption, has become more secure for users.
How does WhatsApp encryption work?
Whatsapp encryption works as end-to-end encryption, i.e. no one, including those in the company itself, will be able to read any content in chats, both between users and in group conversations. Everything is encrypted, including sent messages, photo and video materials, voice messages. In addition, encryption is also enabled for voice calls.
The first popular messenger to introduce encryption was Pavel Durov’s product, Telegram. Its concept initially included secure communication. According to Durov, he was amazed by the revelations of former US NSA employee Edward Snowden, who reported total surveillance the US government for its citizens, as well as the citizens and leadership of other states.
How to enable message encryption in WhatsApp
You don't need to do anything special to enable encryption. It's already enabled by default for all users of this messenger. (and WhatsApp has about a billion of them). It is enough to update your version to the most current one. If one of the participants in a group conversation or chat does not have the latest version, encryption will be disabled.
You can find out if the latter is worth it whatsapp version from your interlocutor by looking at his information.
When you see the image of a closed padlock, you can be sure that encryption is enabled for this contact. If the lock is open, it means it has not yet updated its version to the latest.
Is it possible to “hack” encrypted WhatsApp messages?
No one has yet proven otherwise.
It should be noted what's under burglary This means interception of WhatsApp traffic by third parties - for example, intelligence agencies, your Internet provider, or an attacker in a cafe where you are using an open Wi-Fi access point.
Method reading other people's correspondence, described by me, uses social engineering, so it is still relevant. When your device falls into the wrong hands, then even the strongest encryption algorithm will not help. To protect yourself from it, set a password on your smartphone, or on the launch of a specific application.
Why encrypt messages and calls?
This is exactly what encryption is for. This mechanism encrypts all transmitted data and even if someone is able to intercept it, they will not be able to read or use it. I talked a little about traffic interception in my recent one. Encryption protects us from MITM attacks, which can be easily organized by intelligence agencies or other authorities simply by contacting the provider. But if the transmitted data is encrypted - even if the provider provides access - no one will be able to decrypt the data without having a private key - yours or the interlocutor's. This is what they say on the Whatsapp support site:
How does encryption work in Whatsapp?
This means that even if the data passes through the servers of Whatsapp itself, it passes there in the same encrypted form. Accordingly, no one except chat participants will be able to read them.
How to enable Whatsapp encryption?
It is enabled by default, just update the version of the program to the one where the feature is already enabled.
After which you will see the following message in the chat, where both participants have the encrypted version:
If you click on this message, an explanation will appear and a button through which you can check the encryption. In this case, you will need to scan QR codes on each other’s phones. This feature only allows you to check that it has no effect on enabling or disabling encryption. Moreover, it is impossible to disable it.
The description of the WhatsApp messenger states that it works on the principle of end-to-end encryption. This feature is considered one of the main advantages of the program. But not all users understand what is behind such a name. For many people, the logical question will be: “What is WhatsApp end-to-end encryption?”
Peculiarities
In classic messengers, the following scheme of correspondence between users is as follows: a message is sent from the first device to the developer’s server, and from there it is delivered to the recipient. In modern applications, which include WhatsApp, it is slightly changed.
Now the message is encrypted on the smartphone before it is sent. It comes to the server not in the form of typed text, but in the form of symbols that are chaotic to humans. From there, the message is redirected to the recipient’s smartphone or tablet, where it is decrypted. An encryption key is a sequence of characters that defines the “alphabet” of the cipher. This is some form of alphabet. But in the case of WhatsApp, the key is unique for each device. More precisely, there are two of them: the first is responsible for converting text when sending, the second - when receiving.
It is possible to hack such a system only if you know this WhatsApp encryption key. And it is recorded directly on the user’s device. This is modern protection in the messenger.
Setting up end-to-end encryption
WhatsApp developers do not provide for disabling end-to-end encryption. This is even mentioned on the official website of the application. This decision is quite logical, because the safety and security of personal information has always been important to users. And if you deactivate this function, then the security will go away.
However, it is worth mentioning that not everything is so categorical. If you are looking for how to remove end-to-end encryption in WhatsApp, then there is such a way. It is enough to install an old version of WhatsApp on your smartphone or tablet, which did not have this function.
But in this case, no one can guarantee that strangers will not get into your correspondence. Please note that to install older versions of the program, you will need to disable protection on your mobile device.
In the case of Android, everything is simple, just activate the “Install from unknown sources” mode in the developer settings menu. But for iOS you will need a jailbreak - a hacking option - which can lead to damage to your iPhone or iPad.
Attention: there is no section on the official WhatsApp page where you can find old versions. This means that you will have to download the application from third-party resources that may contain viruses.
