Subj : Google Messages on your Android phone just got a major security u
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Wed Aug 09 2023 12:15:03

Google Messages on your Android phone just got a major security update

Date:
Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:03:55 +0000

Description:
Google has made RCS Messages the new default for Google Messages on Android 
and has expanded its end-to-end encryption.

FULL STORY
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The Google Messages youre sending from your Android phone just got a major 
security upgrade  at least when youre chatting with other folks using the 
best Android phones . 

Google has announced two important changes have already rolled out for RCS 
chats in its Messages app. The first change is that RCS messaging (rich 
communication services) will now be enabled by default in Google Messages for 
all new and existing users  that is unless youve turned off RCS in the 
Settings menu. 

To find your Settings, in the Messages app tap on your profile picture in the 
top right corner; the top option should be RCS Chats and if you press it you 
should see if RCS chats are turned on, alongside settings like read receipts 
and typing indicators. 

The second (and arguably more important) change is that Google is making all 
RCS conversions in Google Messages end-to-end encrypted  finally bringing the 
security feature to group chats. Google Messages already used encryption to 
add an extra layer of security to one-on-one chats and this update should 
help to keep more of your private chats private. 

Just note that this feature is only available for chats in which everyone has 
RCS messaging turned on, and theyre all using Google Messages. So your chats 
with someone that uses one of the best iPhones or has decided to opt out of 
RCS wont be end-to-end encrypted. 

This update should already have rolled out to your device but it might be 
worth checking your Messages Settings to ensure that it has hit your 
smartphone. What is RCS messaging? The Google Pixel 7, 7a and 7 Pro, some of 
the best Android phones (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) 

RCS messages arent just more secure text messages, they offer a few other 
benefits such as the ability to share higher resolution images and videos, to 
get read receipts to see when your message has been delivered and been read, 
and the ability to send chats over data and Wi-Fi. 

One disadvantage to watch out for is that RCS messages typically count 
against your data allowance rather than any text allowance you have in your 
phone plan. So your plans unlimited texts might not mean you have unlimited 
RCS messages. 

However, different carriers have different rules  for example, some networks 
wont count RCS messages against your data usage effectively making them free 
while others will count them. Wed recommend looking at your network and 
contract rules to find out exactly what your situation is. 

Google is clearly keen to make RCS messages the standard for messaging with 
its new encryption settings, however it might need to team up against the UK 
government if it wants its new security feature to stick around for long. To 
find out more, read our story about why Apple has threatened to pull iMessage 
from UK iPhones .



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/phones/google-messages-on-your-android-phone-just-go
t-a-major-security-update


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