WhatsApp, the instant messaging platform acquired by Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) partnered with Open Whisper Systems provide seamless end-to-end encryption.
In a blog post, Open Whisper Systems said it will be working with WhatsApp to integrate the TextSexure protocol for clients and provide end-to-end encryption for users by default.
WhatsApp users’ messages on Android already encrypted
WhatsApp is the largest instant messaging platform to offer end-to-end encryption for millions of users. According to Open Whisper Systems, the most recent Android client release of WhatsApp included support for TestSecure encryption protocol. Users are already exchanging billions of encrypted messages every day.
The encrypted messages are only accessible through the user’s devices using a key. The owner of the account can only access the key, which means WhatsApp and law enforcement agencies cannot open the messages.
Full deployment will be incremental
According to Open Whisper Systems, the next roll out would be the end-to-end encryption for messaging for group chat or media messages of WhatsApp users on Android.
WhatsApp and Open Whisper Systems would also roll out support for more client platforms. The companies would also provide options for key verification for clients following the completion of the protocol integration.
Open Whisper Systems said, “WhatsApp runs on an incredible number of mobile platforms, so full deployment will be an incremental process as we add TextSecure protocol support unto each WhatsApp client platform.”
Open Whisper Systems continues to develop the TextSecure app and its roadmap for its products remained unchanged. According to the company, it has been working with WhatsApp over the past six months and learned a lot through the process of deploying the protocol at a huge scale.
“We believe that by continuing to advance the state of the art for friction-less private communication with open source software, open protocols and simple libraries, we’ll have additional opportunities to support mass adoption of end-to-end encryption,” said Open Whisper Systems.
Furthermore, the company emphasized that WhatsApp “deserves enormous praise” for spending significant time and effort for the project.
In 2011, Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) acquired Open Whisper Systems, but its TextSecure protocol was released as free and open source.
