How to verify encryption in Google Messages
Security should be a top concern for you. To that end, you’ve probably secured all of your accounts with multi-factor authentication and started enabling end-to-end encryption (E2E) on every service that offers the feature.
What does E2E mean? In simplest terms, it means any message you send from Google Messages is encrypted the second it leaves your phone and isn’t decrypted until it reaches the recipient’s device. That means no one in the middle (even your ISP) can read the message. This is especially important for anyone who might be transmitting text messages of a sensitive nature.
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Even if you’re not sending data that might be of significance, it’s still wise to maintain your security and privacy. To that end, E2E should be a priority for your messages.
Google rolled out E2E to its Messages app some time ago. With this feature, anyone you communicate with who has Chat features enabled within the app will enjoy end-to-end encryption for your chats. Every time you send a message to that person, you’ll notice a small lock icon at the bottom right of the Send button to indicate the message is encrypted.
The lock icon attached to the send button indicates E2E is enabled for that chat. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
But how can you be certain the E2E is working as expected?
Fortunately, the developers added a handy little feature for that very reason. This verification relies on both parties, so you’ll have to share these instructions with the person with whom you want to verify.
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Let me show you how this is done.
How to verify E2E on Google Messages
What you’ll need: The only things you’ll need are the Google Messages app (with Chat features enabled) and another person who has the same app with the same feature switched on. Unless both parties have the feature enabled, this won’t work.
The first step is to unlock your phone and open the Messages app. Once the app is open, locate and open a conversation with a contact that also has Chat features enabled.
From within that chat, tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner and then tap Details.
Accessing the Details page from the main menu. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
From the Details window, tap Verify encryption.
From this same menu, you can also block and report a message as spam. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
In the Verify encryption window, you’ll see a collection of 12 strings of random numbers. What you have to do is compare those numbers to the person you’re chatting with.
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If every number matches, the encryption is valid and verified.
Your string of numbers will not be blurred out. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Do yourself a favor and don’t take a screenshot or copy/paste the numbers and send them to the recipient. Your best option is to compare the numbers in person or over the phone. You don’t want those numbers to get in the wrong hands because there could be a way to use those numbers and create a false account where a malicious actor could pose as the original recipient.
Better safe than sorry.
And that’s how you verify the encryption of your Google Messages chats. Chances are very slim that E2E won’t check out, but having it verified is a handy way to ensure it’s working as it should.
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