All your WhatsApp messages are encrypted by default, but WhatsApp believes that not everyone knows that. A new label is intended to draw more attention to function.

WhatsApp wants to make it clear at the beginning of chat conversations that they are end-to-end encrypted. However, encryption is nothing new: WhatsApp already implemented end-to-end encryption in 2016 and also opted for the Signal protocol. This is also used by the app of the same name and, as an open protocol, enjoys a reputation for being very secure.

In other words, messages you send using WhatsApp are encrypted as soon as you click Send and are only decrypted on the recipient’s device. Even parent company Meta can’t do anything with the bits and bytes that run through the servers. However, WhatsApp notes that this knowledge is not ubiquitous. The fact that the messaging service is owned by Meta probably doesn’t improve the app’s perception of security and privacy.

The solution: a label at the top that explicitly states that the messages are encrypted. The label is placed where a contact’s status is currently displayed (online or last seen on…). The disclaimer will appear briefly, then the other information will appear.

Insufficient knowledge

The question is whether this step will really help. The general public does not necessarily have sufficient knowledge to know exactly what end-to-end encryption is or how secure the underlying protocol is. In the name of security, people still regularly switch to Signal (with the same protocol) or even Telegram. For the latter, this is completely ironic, because Telegram’s encryption algorithm is not open and has proven to be inadequate several times. WhatsApp also clearly communicates that messages are encrypted when you start a new chat.

The disclaimer currently appears in trial versions of the app. The rollout to the masses is probably not that far away. The label itself isn’t very interesting, but it’s a good time to think about the above.