Personal chats and calls on Messenger and Facebook are now protected with end-to-end encryption by default, Meta announced on Wednesday. Messenger is also getting a suite of innovative features, including the ability to edit messages after they’ve been sent.
“We take our responsibility to protect your messages seriously and we’re thrilled that after years of investment and testing, we’re able to launch a safer, more secure and private service,” Loredana Crisan, the vice president of Messenger, said.
While end-to-end encryption has been available on Messenger since 2016, it was limited to individual chats and wasn’t active by default. Now, all chats and calls on Messenger are protected by default.
“The extra layer of security provided by end-to-end encryption means that the content of your messages and calls with friends and family are protected from the moment they leave your device to the moment they reach the receiver’s device,” Crisan explained.
Messenger’s end-to-end encryption is built on “strong cryptographic principles,” including the Signal Protocol — also used by WhatsApp — and the new “Labyrinth” protocol developed by Meta.
Other Updates to Messenger
Besides end-to-end encryption, Messenger is also getting the following updates:
- Message Editing: Users can now edit messages up to 15 minutes after sending them. Meta can also review previous versions of messages in case of reported abuse.
- Disappearing Messages: Messages now last for 24 hours before disappearing. It’s also easier to see when other users have activated this feature, and Meta will notify you if someone takes a screenshot of your messages.
- Read Receipts Control: You can now choose if Messenger should display read receipts, enhancing personal privacy.
- Enhanced Photo and Video Sharing: Meta is also upgrading the quality of the one billion-plus photos and videos shared daily via Messenger. It’s also improving the accessibility and interactivity of media on Messenger, with further enhancements like HD media and file sharing in the pipeline.
- Voice Messaging Capabilities: Messenger now supports adjustable playback speeds and seamless listening across the app.
Global Rollout of New Features Will Take Time
Due to the large number of Messenger users, the global rollout of these new features will be gradual, taking several months to complete. Users will receive notifications and prompts to set up recovery methods like PINs as their chats are upgraded.
Here’s how to start using Messenger on your mobile devices:
- Download the Messenger app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
- Install the app on your device.
- Open the Messenger app.
- If you have a Facebook account, log in using your credentials. If not, you must create one.
Messenger did not make our list of the best encrypted messaging apps in 2023, but that might change soon with these new additions.
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