Facebook Messenger tests end-to-end encryption backups

iPhone

Facebook Messenger has confirmed it’s testing end-to-end encryption backups.

WhatsApp has offered end-to-end encryption backups for several years. Now, to increase trust and ensure consumers don’t switch to rival platforms, Messenger plans to follow suit with a suite of changes, announced by Meta on the company’s news website.

Speaking of the news, Messenger’s product manager, Sara Su, said: “As with end-to-end encrypted chats, secure storage means that we wonā€™t have access to your messages, unless you choose to report them to us. Sure storage will protect the history of your end-to-end decrypted conversations on Messenger, and youā€™ll have multiple options for restoring your messages if you choose to do so.ā€

Users will be able to create a PIN or generate a code to access their encrypted messages on a new device, and it will be possible to restore conversations via third-party cloud services. On iOS, users will be able to use iCloud to store a secret key to give access to encrypted backups.

The company has confirmed it will roll out other tests, including the ability for deleted messages to sync across all devices, and the ability to unsend messages. Users will also be able to reply to Facebook Stories, use Code Verify to automatically verify the authenticity of a code when using Messenger for Web, and introduce end-to-end encryption of chats by default for some users.

Are you looking forward to these changes? Let us know and check back soon for the latest.

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