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Facebook Messenger finally enables end-to-end encryption

By Marcus Wong - on 6 Oct 2016, 1:52pm

Facebook Messenger finally enables end-to-end encryption

Encrypted messaging is now available on the Facebook Messenger app, but there are a few steps to take to manually enable it.

  • First, you have to go to the app’s settings to enable Secret Conversations.

  • Then for every person you would like to have a secure conversation with, you have to create a new conversation by tapping “Secret” in the top right corner of the “Message” screen.

You'll have to create new chats for every secret conversation you wish to have.

  • After that, messages in that conversation will be sent with encryption. Unlike Whatsapp (which Facebook also owns) though, encryption is not applied across the board, so you’ll need to redo the process for every person you want to have a secure conversation with.

You also can’t apply encryption retroactively though, so that means creating new conversations for each contact you’d like to have a secure conversation with. Facebook Messenger’s Secret Conversations also don’t allow for rich content, which means no GIFs or personal payments are allowed. Stickers, Emojis and Photos will still be available though, so it’s not just plain text.

Group Conversations are also not included in Secret Conversations, so it only works on a 1:1 basis for now.

To find out more, check out the Facebook Post from when they started exploring the idea. 

Sources: Facebook  blog, AppleInsider

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