The FBI and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) issue a major warning regarding the security of communications between iOS and Android users.
Do you sometimes text people using an Android smartphone when you have an iPhone, or vice versa? Maybe it’s time to stop. Indeed, the two American federal agencies strongly recommend against the exchange of text messages between iOS and Android devices, even via the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol recently adopted by Apple. The reason? The version of the RCS protocol used by Apple does not include end-to-end encryption, leaving conversations vulnerable to cyberattacks.
If communications between two iOS users or between two Android users are perfectly secure thanks to integrated encryption, the problem arises during exchanges between the two platforms. These conversations can be intercepted by hackersnotably a group called “Salt Typhoon”, linked to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
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No, WhatsApp will not stop working on your smartphone overnight
Communications are not end-to-end encrypted
This threat is part of a broader hacking campaign targeting American networks, the scale of which is reportedly “ larger than previously estimated ”, according to the authorities. Faced with this situation, Jeff Greene of CISA and a senior FBI official recommend that AmericansOnly use messaging apps that have end-to-end encryption.
If you are looking for an alternative to continue communicating, you might want to turn to platforms like WhatsApp. This application, available for free on the App Store and the Google Play Store, offers complete encryption of conversations. Paradoxically, although Apple advocates the use of end-to-end encryption to protect its usersthe company has not integrated this functionality into its version of the RCS protocol.
For iPhone users who frequently communicate with contacts on Android, using WhatsApp or one of its competitors like Signal or Telegram is the safest solution, at least until Apple implements a more secure version of the RCS protocol. In the meantime, vigilance remains required in the face of these vulnerabilities which affect intercommunity communications between the two main mobile operating systems.
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