In a world where so much of our personal information is moving back and forth across the internet. It’s important to understand people with the right tools can eavesdrop on your conversations. We have to be diligent and hold privacy and security close to the chest on everything we do online. Encryption is key here, even if someone is able to listen to a conversation, it would sound like a foreign language to them and impossible to decipher without the right dictionary.

End to end encryption has been becoming easier to use.

Apple has been pioneering the way in privacy and security while make it look easy. The “Messages” app has been using end to end encryption for some time. With nothing to set up, users don't even notice the magic behind the scenes. This is how all good technology should work.

Since we touched on “Messages” let's mention and set straight the hot topic floating around about Apple giving data to law enforcement.

Even if law enforcement issued a subpoena for the data. They do not have that foreign language dictionary which would be needed to decipher the conversation. However, being that “Messages” also works with SMS/Text messaging. There is a need for a handshake to introduce the parties before encryption. This handshake is not encrypted and is logged for XX days. Enforcement can make a request and get this data. So yes they can see who you texted and when but NOT what.

Facebook has jumped onto the bandwagon

With their recent update to “Facebook Messenger”. You now have the option to turn on end to end encryption as its off by default. Facebook uses the term “Secret Conversations” for its end to end encryption

If you want to turn this feature on

• Tap the new conversation icon at the top right
• Tap “Secret” in the top right.
• Choose your recipient and begin a message

If you have already started a conversation and what to turn change it over to an encrypted secret conversation

• open the message
• Tap their name at the top of your screen
• Tap “Secret Conversation” to switch it over.

If for don’t see those options, it could be the recipient hasn't updated their Facebook messenger yet