In a world where user data has become a key security issue, Google Messages is a bit of an anachronism in some aspects. This will change very soon.
The Mountain View company would like owners of Android smartphones to see Messages as something other than a must for sending and viewing text messages. To do this, it is gradually enriching it with features that make it a competitor to the messaging services currently in vogue. If you have an Android smartphone, you may notice that Google’s RCS messaging app still looks more like WhatsAppif only by its functionality.
With Google Messages, it is now possible tosend photos faster by reducing their definition, to create a discussion group with 100 people or even to send direct answers to an interlocutor in said discussion. These group features are certainly handy, but for too long Google Messages has failed a point that has become crucial nowadays : Security.
Google Messages will end-to-end encrypt group conversations
According Android Police, Messages for Android could finally offer end-to-end encryption for group conversations. This technology ensures that only people participating in a group can read the messages exchanged there. Neither the telephone operators nor even the FAI will never be able to know what was said in these groups, which is a guarantee of confidentiality. This is a good thing for the data security of ordinary users, but it is less so when this feature is misused, and this certain criminal organizations have understood this.
Discussions with a single interlocutor have long been protected by this type of device, but this layer of security was sorely lacking in groups on Messages. Is this the reason why users prefer WhatsApp and other Telegram to Google’s application? Probably not, as new features are coming at a breakneck pace on WhatsApp. Google is expected to roll out encryption to group conversations on Messages in the coming weeks.
