One billion users can check out the encryption feature

Oct 5, 2016 13:03 GMT  ·  By

Facebook started testing an end-to-end encryption feature in Messenger several months ago and it seems that the feature was recently made available to all users. This means that about 1 billion users can benefit from having their messages encrypted and thus protected.

Sources told Wired that Facebook has started rolling out the new feature to Messenger users. End-to-end encryption in Messenger will use the Signal Protocol created by Open Whisper Systems and found in WhatsApp.

In order to access end-to-end encryption for messages, users simply need to start a Secret Conversation with another user on Messenger. The option is accessible by pressing the user’s profile name in any conversation or by accessing the details icon next to their name.

Messages are already encrypted from one device to another in Facebook’s chat application. Users can choose to make the messages disappear and they can still report conversations, even for a short while after messages have disappeared.

In order to verify if messages are encrypted, senders need to compare device keys with message receivers. If they match, then the conversation is encrypted. These conversations are only available on one device at a time and Facebook offers users the option to change the device if they wish. Moreover, users have the option to set timers for messages, from 5 seconds to a full day.

After the timer expires, the conversation will be automatically deleted. It’s similar to the feature found in WhatsApp. Users won’t be able to send GIFs or videos in secret conversations, but pictures and stickers can be used instead.