FBI Urges iPhone and Android Users to Use Encrypted Messaging Over Texts

The FBI and CISA are warning Americans about the dangers of using regular text messages. They suggest switching to apps that protect your messages with strong encryption. This is because hackers are getting better at stealing information, and there was a big attack linked to a group connected to China. To stay safe, it's important to use apps that keep your messages private.

Why Encrypted Messaging Matters

While messages sent within the same ecosystem—iPhone to iPhone (iMessage) or Android to Android (Google Messages)—are secure, cross-platform communication lacks end-to-end encryption. This vulnerability makes it easier for hackers to intercept sensitive information.

Jeff Greene, a CISA official, emphasized, “Encryption is your friend, whether it’s text messaging or voice communication. Even if intercepted, encrypted data is unreadable to adversaries.”

The RCS Conundrum

RCS (Rich Communication Services), the modern successor to SMS, has improved functionality like read receipts and typing indicators but falls short on cross-platform encryption. For now, RCS is secure only between Android devices, leaving iPhone-to-Android messages unprotected. Although Google and the GSMA promise encryption for RCS, no timeline has been provided.

Experts suggest using encrypted messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp for all your chats. Especially when talking to people on different apps. These apps protect your texts, calls, and videos with strong encryption. Even Facebook Messenger is now encrypted, making older ways of texting less secure.

Apple's new iOS update, 18.2, will let you use different messaging apps as your default. This means you won't have to stick to Apple's built-in messaging app. This change shows that people are moving away from regular text messages and towards other ways of chatting. Even though Apple already cares a lot about your privacy, this update is a sign that protecting your privacy across different apps is becoming more important.

To safeguard your private information from cyberattacks, avoid using unencrypted text messaging. Instead, rely on secure platforms like Signal or WhatsApp until RCS catches up with end-to-end encryption. With cyber threats on the rise, it’s better to stay ahead than risk compromising sensitive data.