WhatsApp has been offering end-to-end encryption for chats for years, but now it has added a new layer of security to chat backups as well. WhatsApp has begun rolling out end-to-end chat backups for IOS as well as Android users globally, announced Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday.
This feature will provide an optional extra layer of protection to their iCloud and Google Drive accounts if users want it.
Here are the steps to enable end-to-end encrypted backup-
Step 1- Open WhatsApp and open Settings.
Step 2- In Settings, select Chats>Chat backup> End-to-end encrypted backup.
Step 3- Now hit “Continue” and follow the prompts to create a password or key.
Step 4- Once the password or key is set, tap Done, and wait for WhatsApp to get your end-to-end encrypted backup ready.
Note: WhatsApp advises users to connect to a power source. Also, you won’t be able to restore your backup if you lose your WhatsApp chats and forget your password or key. WhatsApp can’t reset your password or restore your backup for you.
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Here are the steps to turn on end-to-end encrypted backup-
Step 1- Open Settings
Step 2- Tap Chats>Chat Backup>End-to-End encrypted backup.
Step 3- Tap Turn off
Step 4- Enter your password.
Step 5- Confirm you want to turn off encrypted backup by tapping Turn Off.
What does WhatsApp have to say about it?
“In rolling this out, we have completed the final step in providing a fully end-to-end encrypted messaging experience,” the Facebook-owned popular messaging app stated. It also said, “You can now secure your end-to-end encrypted backup with either a password of your choice or a 64-digit encryption key that only you know. Neither WhatsApp nor your backup service provider will be able to read your backups or access the key required to unlock it.”
“This feature will provide people with more privacy and security for their digital conversations and that’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly. Given this, we are rolling this out slowly to ensure a consistent and reliable user experience for people on IOS and Android around the world,” WhatsApp official said in a statement.
WhatsApp had temporarily enabled the feature on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.21.15.5 update to protect backups while on Google Drive from unauthorized access. It was disabled later in the 2.21.15.7 beta update for Android users. It was enabled once again, first on IOS this time and later on Android.
