Iphone Users May Finally Be Able To Send Encrypted Texts To Android Friends With Ios 26

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Encrypted matter messages whitethorn yet scope iPhone users pinch iOS 26.
• Code successful nan beta type of iOS 26 reveals strings for RCS encryption.
• With encryption, texts betwixt iOS and Android will beryllium much secure.

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With nan merchandise of iOS 18 successful 2024, iPhone users were yet capable to exchange rich | matter messages pinch their Android counterparts. However, 1 important characteristic has been missing -- encryption. Now, this year's caller spirit of iOS whitethorn yet adhd that important information facet to nan mix.

Currently successful beta up of its expected nationalist release adjacent month, iOS 26 contains codification that points to end-to-end encryption successful matter exchanges betwixt iOS and Android. As analyzed by nan folks astatine Android Authority, nan codification contains 2 strings, 1 of which mentions RCS Encryption Enabled and nan different RCS Encryption Opt-in Test Enabled.

Also: Why Apple's RCS encryption move is simply a privateness game-changer for your texts

RCS, aliases Rich Communication Service, is simply a messaging modular released by Google a fewer years ago. Designed to switch SMS messaging, RCS is simply a much modern modular that tin grip richer content.

With RCS enabled, texts from iPhone owners to Android users tin see larger record attachments, higher-quality photos and videos, audio messages, publication receipts, much types of emoji, and smoother group chats. This was nan modular that some Apple and Google approved and implemented to let texts betwixt iOS and Android.

However, there's been that pesky deficiency of encryption. Messages exchanged betwixt iPhone owners utilizing iMessage are encrypted, arsenic are messages exchanged betwixt Android owners utilizing Google Messages. But messages exchanged betwixt nan 2 competing platforms person nary specified information successful place, exposing them to eavesdropping and different risks.

Also: 5 iOS 26 features that made updating my iPhone worthwhile (and really to effort them)

Earlier this year, Apple revealed that it would add support for encrypted RCS messages successful early updates to iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, and WatchOS. The institution provided nary clear timetable arsenic to erstwhile that would happen, but nan groundwork has already been completed.

Around nan aforesaid time, nan GSM Association announced new specifications for RCS that see end-to-end encryption (E2EE). Courtesy of nan caller standard, RCS will beryllium nan first awesome messaging format to support this type of encryption among different providers, including Apple and Google. This latest modular is based connected a protocol known arsenic Messaging Layer Security (MLS).

Also: You tin delete sent matter messages connected Android now - here's how

With MLS successful place, RCS messages and their rich | contented stay confidential and unafraid arsenic they're routed from 1 instrumentality to another. By adding different information features specified arsenic SIM-based authentication, nan end-to-end encryption will thief support RCS messages private, protecting group from scams, fraud, and different threats, nan GSMA said astatine nan time.

Of course, arsenic Android Authority acknowledged, nan strings successful nan codification for iOS 26 don't mean that RCS encryption will look arsenic soon arsenic nan caller OS is released. Depending connected really overmuch advancement Apple has made successful this area, we whitethorn not spot this until an update to iOS 26 later this twelvemonth aliases moreover adjacent year. Still, pinch nan instauration successful place, nan shot is now successful Apple's tribunal to bring this important information characteristic to its users.

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