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Facebook Considering Optional End-to-End Encryption for Messenger

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Facebook is planning to introduce an optional end-to-end encryption mode for its Facebook Messenger chat platform, currently used by more than 900 million people, reports The Guardian.

Citing sources "close to the project," The Guardian says the encryption will be an opt-in feature because turning it on will impact some of the new machine learning features being built into the Messenger app like chat bots. Google's upcoming "Allo" messaging app also offers an opt-in end-to-end encryption option it calls "incognito mode."

Many major technology companies have taken a stronger stance on privacy, embracing end-to-end encryption following Apple's standoff with the FBI. Earlier this year, the FBI demanded Apple unlock the iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook by bypassing Apple's own passcode security features.

Apple refused, and the FBI eventually found an alternate way to access the iPhone, but the dispute has scared technology companies into bolstering security. Dozens of major technology companies supported Apple during its fight with the FBI, all of whom were concerned about the precedent the FBI's demand could set.

Popular Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp enabled full end-to-end encryption in April, and in March, Swiss software developer Proton Technologies released ProtonMail, an email app offering end-to-end encryption. Apple is also rumored to be working on enhanced security measures for its software and hardware, and apps like Telegram Messenger have grown in popularity.

It is not clear exactly when Facebook might introduce new encryption options for Messenger, but the feature is said to be planned "in the coming months." Facebook declined to comment on the rumor, saying it does not respond to rumor and speculation.

Article Link: Facebook Considering Optional End-to-End Encryption for Messenger
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/31/facebook-encryption-messenger/
Thankfully I turn on restriction on iOS and limits almost all activities Messenger app may require.
I find it is constantly trying to enable something in background, causing subtle but easy to notice tap-alike noise. I suspect it is trying to enable Microphone or start VOIP connection even while user just want to "text".
Such end-to-end encryption would not benefit a lot of users because it is "optional" anyway.
 
No thanks to Facebook Messenger that requires it's own stand alone app for smart devices. Don't really care about how secure it can be.
 
Hopefully end to end encryption will become standard among all communications.

Hard to escape Facebook and Google combo. Both companies try to mine so much data, it's scary.
 
Col4bin said:
No thanks to Facebook Messenger that requires it's own stand alone app for smart devices. Don't really care about how secure it can be.
Click to expand...
Seems like a fairly good option for those that might mostly/often use it to communicate with others and don't really care about the Facebook aspect/portion of it as much.
 
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Facebook might be evil, and the app may very well be listening to my most intimate conversations but I'll be damned if I haven't needed to get in contact with someone (but not had their number) and used Facebook messenger, since I don't give everyone I know my number but I'll "friend" small aquaintences on Facebook. Makes sense to keep adding these call, pay, and encryption features.

The Machine is good at what they're doing, y'all. Just sit back and be the sheep you already are anyway. *baa baa*
 
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C DM said:
Seems like a fairly good option for those that might mostly/often use it to communicate with others and don't really care about the Facebook aspect/portion of it as much.
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Don't really care much about Facebook either for that matter. There are many messenger apps out there already.
 
Col4bin said:
Don't really care much about Facebook either for that matter. There are many messenger apps out there already.
Click to expand...
Not as many that have as many people reachable as Facebook Messenger might. Mainly depends on what other people that you want to communicate with use or would use.
 
I'll say what I always say about end-to-end encryption: If I can't handle the public key exchange myself, it's bogus. Otherwise, for all I know, Facebook could be hitting me with a MitM attack!
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Col4bin said:
Don't really care much about Facebook either for that matter. There are many messenger apps out there already.
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Then you're lucky. I wish people I know would use something better than Facebook, but they all use Facebook, so I use it too. And I use iMessage if I know the person's number and know he has it set up on his PC too, which is usually not the case.
 
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Same for contacting with people from China. They all use wechat, then if you want to contact them, you will eventually need to register wechat whatsoever.
 
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Idk about you, but we all bailed out of fb app last year and their messenger.
They have admitted that they listen in when you use their apps to hear your music and entertainment playing in the background.
 
miknos said:
Hopefully end to end encryption will become standard among all communications.

Hard to escape Facebook and Google combo. Both companies try to mine so much data, it's scary.
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Not sure what you mean.
I don’t use Facebook and for all of my day to day browsing, Cookies are turned off as is Javascript, Java and all the other rubbish. Except for sites like this.
I have a GMail account but it’s not signed in except when I want to specifically check mail.
So, my question to you. Assume I’m a regular browser and that I have the usual web technologies enabled, (not Java). Me opening a browser window and typing ‘MacRumors’ into the search which takes me to this page where I click the first link and begin to happen upon nonsense posts that I can reply to.
What exactly has been mined please. No, NOT what you think has been mined. What can you tell me with 99% certainty has been combed from my computer and what has happened to it?
I don’t mean Non Personal Information or Aggregate Data as all websites will collect this. Potentially Personal Info is Ok but you need to suppose how any link is created, (Non-Personal Information in and of itself, but that could be used in conjunction with other information to personally identify you. For example, Uniform Resource Locators (“URLs”) (the addresses of web pages) or Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses (the addresses of computers on the Internet), which are Non-Personal Information in and of themselves, could be Personal Information when combined with Internet service provider (“ISP”) records.).

Don’t reply with something vague like - 'Yeah they collect that’.
Let’s have a specific answer.
 
H2SO4 said:
Not sure what you mean.
I don’t use Facebook and for all of my day to day browsing, Cookies are turned off as is Javascript, Java and all the other rubbish. Except for sites like this.
I have a GMail account but it’s not signed in except when I want to specifically check mail.
So, my question to you. Assume I’m a regular browser and that I have the usual web technologies enabled, (not Java). Me opening a browser window and typing ‘MacRumors’ into the search which takes me to this page where I click the first link and begin to happen upon nonsense posts that I can reply to.
What exactly has been mined please. No, NOT what you think has been mined. What can you tell me with 99% certainty has been combed from my computer and what has happened to it?
I don’t mean Non Personal Information or Aggregate Data as all websites will collect this. Potentially Personal Info is Ok but you need to suppose how any link is created, (Non-Personal Information in and of itself, but that could be used in conjunction with other information to personally identify you. For example, Uniform Resource Locators (“URLs”) (the addresses of web pages) or Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses (the addresses of computers on the Internet), which are Non-Personal Information in and of themselves, could be Personal Information when combined with Internet service provider (“ISP”) records.).

Don’t reply with something vague like - 'Yeah they collect that’.
Let’s have a specific answer.
Click to expand...

If you use Gmail and Google Search (probably Youtube, Waze/Maps, Google Photos, Docs/Sheets, among other products), Google might have a lot of information about you. Your IP, what websites you visit, where you live and go, what you're interested on…
Even if you're not logged in, they already know your IP. Many websites use Google Analytics tool. Like the infamous Facebook Like button, they track you. If your company use Google Sheets for accounting purposes, they already know how profitable your company is. Facebook, Google among others already have Facial Recognition. Maybe your friends and family uploads a bunch of photos with you in it…

With Nest (thermostat and cameras) that are connected to the internet. Of course you cannot set your own server. You have to use Google's.
Google developing an Amazon Echo competitor. Another machines who "listens" to your living room the whole time.
GBoard; a keyboard who might work as a key logger. This new Allo chat that mines your chat content...

Google was already caught cheating the Safari's DoNotTrack, engineers caught spying teen users, tracking students with its ChromeOS, lying in bed with government, etc.

I know The problem with all that technology is that IF Google decides to target you, they'll be able to.
 
miknos said:
If you use Gmail and Google Search (probably Youtube, Waze/Maps, Google Photos, Docs/Sheets, among other products), Google might have a lot of information about you. Your IP, what websites you visit, where you live and go, what you're interested on…
Even if you're not logged in, they already know your IP. Many websites use Google Analytics tool. Like the infamous Facebook Like button, they track you. If your company use Google Sheets for accounting purposes, they already know how profitable your company is. Facebook, Google among others already have Facial Recognition. Maybe your friends and family uploads a bunch of photos with you in it…

With Nest (thermostat and cameras) that are connected to the internet. Of course you cannot set your own server. You have to use Google's.
Google developing an Amazon Echo competitor. Another machines who "listens" to your living room the whole time.
GBoard; a keyboard who might work as a key logger. This new Allo chat that mines your chat content...

Google was already caught cheating the Safari's DoNotTrack, engineers caught spying teen users, tracking students with its ChromeOS, lying in bed with government, etc.

I know The problem with all that technology is that IF Google decides to target you, they'll be able to.
Click to expand...
I’m still not convinced they’re as evil as is seemed to be made out. Lots of our 'righteous' companies actually use Google analytics and similar sources but purport to keep your info safe.
What they actually mean is;
  • We get info about you that we don’t share with others.
  • But……we also use things like Google analytics to fill in the gaps. So are they really any better?
 
H2SO4 said:
I’m still not convinced they’re as evil as is seemed to be made out. Lots of our 'righteous' companies actually use Google analytics and similar sources but purport to keep your info safe.
What they actually mean is;
  • We get info about you that we don’t share with others.
  • But……we also use things like Google analytics to fill in the gaps. So are they really any better?
Click to expand...

Google services are "free" and quite good. They don't put a gun to your head so it's hard to complain. I just wish users knew what the exchange is (privacy in exchange for a good service).

Your data is safe until it is not. All companies get hacked. Even Google.

Snowden revealed how our government works. Imagine when Google becomes a contractor.
 
miknos said:
Google services are "free" and quite good. They don't put a gun to your head so it's hard to complain. I just wish users knew what the exchange is (privacy in exchange for a good service).

Your data is safe until it is not. All companies get hacked. Even Google.

Snowden revealed how our government works. Imagine when Google becomes a contractor.
Click to expand...
Ok, take that point.
 
miknos said:
Something to check too:
Facebook using people’s phones to listen to what they say, professor suggests
https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/4lv97q/facebook_is_using_your_phone_to_listen_to/
https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/3o3c42/op_observes_how_facebooks_mobile_app_served_him/

Unfortunately all those "features" are never opt-in. They are always sneakily default.
Click to expand...
Not sure why it's popping up again when this kind of thing has been around for well over year as I recall: https://www.facebook.com/help/iphone-app/1499418503612943

Also, pretty sure these things are much more opt-in than the other way around, especially since permission has to be granted for the microphone (or camera, or photo access, or location services, etc.) has to be provided before the app can make use of it, and can be easily changed at any point.
 
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