Messenger Starts Testing End-to-End Encryption

[bill]

Facebook is testing out a new feature called secret conversations in their Messenger app that offers users end-to-end encryption.

https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2016/07/messenger-starts-testing-end-to-end-encryption-with-secret-conversations/ [newsroom.fb.com]

Messenger Starts Testing End-to-End Encryption with Secret Conversations

To enable you to do this we are starting to test the ability to create one-to-one secret conversations in Messenger that will be end-to-end encrypted and which can only be read on one device of the person you’re communicating with. That means the messages are intended just for you and the other person — not anyone else, including us. Within a secret conversation, you can also choose to set a timer to control the length of time each message you send remains visible within the conversation. Our technology uses the Signal Protocol developed by Open Whisper Systems.

It's not on by default which kind of defeats the purpose, but at least it will be available...

[tangor]

Wheee! (yawn) Just what we wanted! Something arcane and useful-lesswe-bendovr-timeagain. (Note: if not obvious, I'm not impressed. More from the Register:

Facebook is rolling out end-to-end encryption for its messaging service to bring it in line with competitors, including its own WhatsApp.

But as ever with Facebook, there's a catch: you'll have to actively select the encrypted version each time, and the service will be limited to a single device. You also won't be able to use it to send things like pictures or videos.

[theregister.co.uk...]
I can see this taking off like molasses on a February (northern hemisphere!) tin roof. These "secret conversations" begs the real question of who is doing the encrypt and can we trust them? ... too many oddities over the years. :)

[engine]

For many people they may like the auto deletion of messages after a set time period, very similar to other messaging services.

Yes, there are questions over the encryption, however, for the vast majority of people it's better than no encryption, and many will accept it, i'm sure.