All articles tagged with #encryption
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced Incognito Chat for Meta AI, a private-by-design chat that doesn’t store conversation logs on servers, uses end-to-end encryption, and makes messages disappear after you leave the chat. The feature will roll out over coming months to WhatsApp and the Meta AI app, positioning Meta against other AI chats that retain temporary data (Google: up to 72 hours; ChatGPT/Claude: days).
Apple and Google are enabling end‑to‑end encrypted RCS cross‑platform messaging in the iOS 26.5 beta, embedding encryption into the GSMA’s RCS Universal Profile so iPhone and Android users can chat privately automatically when both parties are on a supported device and carrier; major carriers in the US and Canada are onboard, but it’s a beta rollout and may take time to reach all users.
Playable copies of Forza Horizon 6 appeared on piracy sites days before launch after Microsoft briefly uploaded about 155 GB of unencrypted files to Steam; CrackWatch and other communities quickly reported that the game’s copy protection was cracked and leaks spread on social media, raising concerns about potential revenue impact ahead of the official May 19 release (May 15 for the Premium Edition).
Apple fixed a security flaw that allowed push notifications to retain content from deleted Signal messages, potentially letting authorities access encrypted chats even after deletion. The bug stemmed from a logging issue that failed to redact data; after updating, affected notifications are deleted and future notifications for deleted apps won’t be preserved. Signal praised the quick fix and users are advised to review notification previews for extra privacy.
X unveiled XChat, a standalone, ad-free messaging app for iPhone and iPad that promises end-to-end encryption, audio/video calling, file sharing, and group chats. The launch is planned for April 17 and will not include Android support, while privacy-policy questions from users linger over the service.
A New Mexico state court jury found Meta liable for violating consumer protections by failing to shield children on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, ordering $375 million in damages. The case, rooted in an undercover operation and investigative reporting into child exploitation, also highlighted deficient reporting and overreliance on AI moderation. Meta plans to appeal as it faces two more child-safety trials and a separate federal suit, with potential changes like age-gating and encryption-design adjustments on the horizon.
Instagram will stop offering end-to-end encryption for direct messages on May 8, 2026, allowing Meta to view message contents when encryption is not enabled. Meta cites low uptake of encrypted DMs and ongoing safety concerns from law enforcement and child-safety groups; users seeking encrypted chats can switch to WhatsApp. Australia has already seen the feature deactivated, and analysts say the move reflects a broader split between social media and messaging, balancing safety and business considerations.
Meta will deprecate end-to-end encryption for Instagram messages starting May 8, citing low adoption and directing users to WhatsApp for encrypted chats, while Messenger’s E2EE remains available. Internal safety staff warned that default encryption could hinder detection and reporting of abuse, and internal forecasts suggested a steep drop in referrals to child-protection services, contributing to a slow and incomplete rollout. This marks the first time a major platform has rolled back encryption, against a backdrop of global regulatory pressure and ongoing child-safety concerns, highlighting the clash between user privacy and platform safety in private communications.
Meta will end end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages on May 8, 2026, affecting only a small subset of opt-in users in select regions. Affected users will be able to export their chats/media before encryption is removed, and those on older app versions may need to update to retrieve conversations. The move follows low adoption of E2E on Instagram and comes amid ongoing privacy vs. safety debates among regulators and advocates; WhatsApp remains Meta’s primary E2E platform, and Meta’s encryption work continues on Messenger. Meta says the removal will happen soon and has faced criticism from privacy advocates.
Meta will discontinue support for end-to-end encryption in Instagram direct messages after May 8, 2026, with guidance for users to download affected chats and media. The move follows earlier testing of E2EE as part of privacy goals and comes amid broader debates about privacy versus safety and law-enforcement access.
During a New Mexico trial over child-safety allegations, Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said that despite safety efforts and teen protections, some criminal activity will inevitably occur on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram; prosecutors contend Meta prioritizes profits over safety, while the company points to encryption and proactive safety features as safeguards. The testimony covers the effectiveness of tools like end-to-end encryption on Messenger and the 'People you may know' algorithm, and the trial continues with deposits and internal concerns about safeguards.
An ETH Zurich team tested Bitwarden, LastPass, and Dashlane under a malicious-server threat model and demonstrated 12, 7, and 6 attacks respectively, showing that passwords could be accessed or altered and that end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption promises may not hold. They found the attacks often only required routine user actions like logging in or syncing. The researchers propose updating cryptographic standards for new customers, providing migration paths for existing users, and increasing transparency via external audits, noting that many providers still rely on outdated crypto. Consumers should favor password managers that disclose vulnerabilities, are audited, and enable end-to-end encryption by default.
Mashable Deals reports a limited-time sale offering 100TB of Internxt Cloud Storage for life for $849.97 (down from $9,900). The plan is available to new users only and codes aren’t stackable. It features end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge storage, open-source software, GDPR compliance, and post-quantum security, usable across Windows/macOS/Linux, iOS/Android with unlimited devices and ongoing app updates. The sale runs through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT and prices may change.
Researchers from ETH Zurich and USI Lugano analyzed Bitwarden, Dashlane, and LastPass and uncovered multiple attack vectors that can enable a compromised or malicious server to read or even modify vaults, especially when account-recovery, group enrollment, key escrow, or backward-compatibility features are enabled. Some attacks could allow theft of entire vaults or selective item data, and even breach older encryption configurations. While vendors defend their security audits and ongoing patching, the study argues that the term “zero-knowledge” can be misleading and urges stronger threat models and resilience measures across password managers.
Apple is testing end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging in the iOS 26.4 developer beta, but the encryption tests are currently limited to Apple devices and won’t be shipped in this beta; cross‑platform (iPhone‑to‑Android) encrypted RCS messaging is planned for a future update.