Facebook Messenger gets end-to-end encryption with opt-in per conversation

Facebook has implemented end-to-end encryption on its Messenger apps on iOS and Android. Users must indicate per conversation that they want to encrypt this, after which a new, encrypted conversation appears in the conversation list.

The details of the implementation differ from WhatsApp, which is also a Facebook product. This form of encryption is enabled by default for everyone. For each conversation, users have to navigate to the options in the mobile app to enable the ‘secret conversation’ option there. This creates a new conversation that cannot be found, for example, in the conversation list on the desktop website. That’s why it’s an opt-in feature: the fact that Facebook Messenger users communicate on multiple devices makes it difficult for end-to-end encryption. The company has previously announced this.

Messages can also be given a self-destruct function. Then the message will be automatically deleted a certain time after it has been read. This timer can be set to a minimum of 5 seconds and a maximum of 24 hours. The chats are encrypted with the Signal protocol of Open Whisper System, which is also used in WhatsApp.

The news does not emerge from the changelogs of the apps. Instead, it is confirmed to Wired by a spokesperson.