The FBI has issued a warning for iPhone and Android users to cease texting each other for a particularly concerning reason.
Android and Apple’s iOS stand as two of the leading mobile phone operating systems, often sparking debates among their users over superiority. However, the latest advisory from authorities affects users of both platforms, urging caution when sending text messages, but this isn’t about which system is better.
Both the FBI and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are advising users to switch to messaging apps that employ end-to-end encryption for enhanced security.
This warning follows a significant cyberattack labeled as ‘unprecedented’ by media outlets. The incident has affected major telecommunications providers like AT&T and Verizon. Employing encrypted messaging apps can help users keep their communications concealed from cybercriminals.
The hacking operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon by Microsoft, remains unresolved. NBC News referred to it as ‘one of the largest intelligence compromises in US history’.
The US government is currently investigating the breach, which authorities claim has exposed private texts and phone conversations. In addition, hackers have gained access to metadata, or call records, which detail the numbers dialed and call durations.
Reports suggest that hackers have concentrated their efforts on records in the Washington, D.C. area, with real-time phone calls also being intercepted.
Jeff Greene, the executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, stated to NBC News: “Our suggestion, what we have told folks internally, is not new here: encryption is your friend, whether it’s on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication.
“Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible.”
Among the apps that employ end-to-end encryption are Apple’s iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Signal.
A senior FBI official, who requested anonymity, mentioned: “People looking to further protect their mobile device communications would benefit from considering using a cellphone that automatically receives timely operating system updates, responsibly managed encryption and phishing resistant multi-factor authentication for email, social media and collaboration tool accounts”.
End-to-end encryption is a secure communication method that prevents third parties from accessing data exchanged between devices. It involves encryption keys that transform data into unreadable text. A private key is generated on the sender’s and recipient’s devices for each conversation, and this key is never disclosed. Only the sender and the recipient can decrypt the message, and this can only be done on the receiver’s device.