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Apple has long been known for its commitment to user privacy and security. To double down on that, the tech firm has recently announced a groundbreaking upgrade to its messaging platform iMessage to make it resistant to decryption efforts by quantum computers.
With the expansion of quantum computers, many tech companies worried that bad actors could use the existing potential to break into victim’s servers and compromise their data and privacy.
Apple notes that quantum computers can bypass the current end-to-end encryption of iMessage. Meanwhile, thanks to the firm’s post-quantum cryptographic protocol, known as PQ3, iMessage is now more robust against any attempts by quantum computers to compromise user’s privacy.
Apple iMessage can now protect your data against attackers using quantum computers
“More than simply replacing an existing algorithm with a new one, we rebuilt the iMessage cryptographic protocol from the ground up,” Apple said in its blog post. “It will fully replace the existing protocol within all supported conversations this year.” The iPhone maker also claims it had not found any evidence of breaching so far following the implementation of PQ3.
Most messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram now rely on end-to-end encryption to preserve users’ privacy. However, Apple has taken its protection measures to a new level by introducing a “state-of-the-art” PQ3 protocol. Other messaging apps could also launch similar protection in the coming years.
iMessage PQ3 protocol will be available to all Apple operating systems and devices
Apple confirmed the PQ3 is available with the public releases of iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, and watchOS 10.4. It’s also already available in developer preview and beta releases. Apple also says all conversations between devices that support PQ3 are automatically upgraded to the post-quantum encryption protocol.
Apple hopes to safeguard iMessage from future attacks by quantum computers by integrating encryption algorithms resistant to quantum computing. With the iMessage PQ3 protocol, users can now benefit from extra security. Additionally, they have more peace of mind, knowing that their confidential chats are not visible to prying eyes.