Google seems to be working on end-to-end encryption for rcs messages

Evidence has been found that Google is working on end-to-end encryption of RCS messages. These instructions were found in a new version of Google Messages, which can be used to send RCS messages.

The 9To5Google website examined an APK installation file released by Google for a test. Several strings of code were found in the installation file, which refer to building in end-to-end encryption, although Google has not yet officially confirmed that it is working on such functionality. Often new features of Google are found first after a teardown of an installation file.

The code shows that Google Messages checks whether the sender and recipient have a working internet connection in order to send rcs messages that are end-to-end encrypted. If this is not the case, the app will offer to send the message via SMS instead of via rcs. Then a warning is also shown that the message is not end-to-end encrypted.

Google started rolling out rcs last year, the protocol that must follow SMS. Rcs has long been seen as the successor to SMS. It is not only possible to send messages, but it also has all kinds of techniques that are the standard for chat apps today, such as sending photos, videos and read receipts.