Apple announces a new protocol for encrypting conversations in its iMessage instant messaging service. This complex system is capable, according to the Californian manufacturer, of resisting attacks from quantum computers.
iMessage was launched in 2011, and one of its strong points displayed by Apple was the security of users and the confidentiality of their exchanges. The brand’s proprietary instant messaging offers complete encryption of conversations between the two devices.
Although few major players offered this security system at the beginning of the 2010s, all messaging services have now changed their operation to integrate encryption. WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram offer conversation protection, even if some controversies have recently erupted on this subject. Apple, however, has not said its last word and today announced a profound overhaul of its encryption technology, which means that iMessage is now the most secure general public instant messaging in the world, quite simply.
A new post-quantum encryption protocol
In a post posted on the company’s security blog, Apple presents PQ3, its new encryption device which will be introduced very soon in iOS, iPadOS and macOS. The latter is designed to resist attacks carried out using quantum computers.
“ With compromise-resistant encryption and extensive defenses against even the most sophisticated quantum attacks, PQ3 is the first messaging protocol to achieve what we call Level 3 security, providing protocol protections that surpass those of all other widely deployed messaging applications. To our knowledge, PQ3 has the strongest security properties of any large-scale messaging protocol in the world », Specifies Apple in its press release.
Apple presents a security scale designed by itself and displaying 4 levels. Unsurprisingly, iMessage is now at level 3, the maximum level. Signal, which offers post-quantum encryption called PQXDH, is level 2, while WhatsApp and its more traditional end-to-end encryption would remain at level 1.
A completely transparent change for users, and which is coming very soon
To justify its choice to adopt encryption resistant to quantum attacks, Apple explains that some hackers are adopting a new strategy called “ Harvest Now, Decrypt Later “, which could be roughly translated as ” Harvest now, decipher later “. Hackers thus collect data that is currently unusable, which could be deciphered in a few years when quantum computing becomes more democratized.
The PQ3 protects both the conversation and the encryption key. If the latter is compromised, the security system can produce new encryption keys to maximize protection. PQ3 works with traditional encryption technologies already built into iMessage. Apple also indicates that the speed of receiving and sending messages will not be affected, with verification only occurring after a certain number of messages exchanged with the correspondent.
The PQ3 integration will arrive with the release of iOS and iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4 and watchOS 10.4, which is expected to occur in early March 2024, and will be completely transparent to users.
Who has never used instant messaging instead of the very famous SMS? There is no doubt, communicating with loved ones quickly and in just a few clicks, instant messaging has become very popular, even essential.
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Source : 9to5Mac
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