WhatsApp is rolling out an option for users to encrypt their message backups, and that is a big win for user privacy and security. The new feature i

What’s Up with WhatsApp Encrypted Backups

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2021-09-17 00:30:04

WhatsApp is rolling out an option for users to encrypt their message backups, and that is a big win for user privacy and security. The new feature is expected to be available for both iOS and Android “ in the coming weeks. ” EFF has pointed out unencrypted backups as a huge weakness for WhatsApp and for any messenger that claims to offer end-to-end encryption , and we applaud this improvement. Next, encryption for backups should become the default for all users, not just an option.

Currently, users can choose to periodically back up their WhatsApp message history on iCloud (for iOS phones) or Google Drive (for Android phones), or to never back them up at all. Backing up your messages means that you can still access them if, for example, your phone is lost or destroyed.

WhatsApp does not have access to these backups, but backup service providers Apple and Google sure do . Unencrypted backups are vulnerable to government requests, third-party hacking, and disclosure by Apple or Google employees. That’s why EFF has consistently recommended that users not back up their messages to the cloud, and further that you encourage your friends and contacts to skip it too. Backing up secure messenger conversations to the cloud unencrypted (or encrypted in a way that allows the company running the backup to access message contents) means exposing the plaintext to third parties, and introduces a significant hole in the protection the messenger can offer.