WhatsApp End-to-End Encryption Indicator rolls out on Beta ،
Every time you chat with someone on WhatsApp for the first time, you are greeted with a message saying: “Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted.” However, this message only appears once, namely when you start chatting with the person. To raise awareness about encryption, WhatsApp is considering changing this approach by displaying a small status or caption under the contact name to let you know that chats are encrypted.
The feature has been available on iOS and Mac for a while now and it's good to see it making its way to Android as well. WABetaInfo initially spotted this feature on the latest WhatsApp beta 2.24.3.17, available on the Google Play Store. As you can see in the screenshot below, a small caption pops in and out while you're chatting with the user.
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Don't worry; You can still see a user's “last seen” after the caption disappears. The legend usually disappears 2-3 seconds. So, does this mean our chats weren't encrypted? No, all WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted by default. New legend “end-to-end encrypted” Rather, it is an awareness message intended to reassure users that their chats are private.
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So, what is end-to-end encryption? End-to-end encryption ensures that your messages remain private and protected from third parties, including WhatsApp itself. Only you and the recipient can see messages sent or received. Messages you send or receive are converted to unreadable text called “ciphertext” which cannot be decrypted into readable text called “plaintext” unless you have a key. On your side, messages can be decrypted using your keys.
Finally, WhatsApp's new way of emphasizing end-to-end encryption with a little caption is a big step forward in raising user awareness and protecting their privacy. Users can rest assured knowing that their messages are private and safe from prying eyes, all thanks to this update. Although the feature is still in beta, we can expect it to roll out to all users in the coming weeks.
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