Viber has implemented end-to-end encryption, the company said on Tuesday, putting it in line with messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage.
Your security is our top priority. Viber now features full end-to-end encryption! Learn all about it here https://t.co/WzBelK22wE
— Viber (@Viber) April 19, 2016
“Viber’s commitment to user privacy and security is reflected in our addition of the latest in encryption technology to the service,” the company announced. “This upgrade brings an additional layer of protection to reassure all users that Viber provides safety from third parties at the highest possible standards.”
The upgrade will apply to users operating the newest Apple iOS 6 version of the application, and can include both individual communication and group chats. It also includes a color-coded feature that keeps users informed of whether encryption is turned on.
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The upgrade may come as particularly vexing to critics of encryption. The six-year-old company is registered in Las Vegas and Cyprus, with development centers in Belarus and Israel, though it was bought out by Japanese Internet company Rakuten in 2014, putting it largely beyond the reach of U.S. regulators.
Viber’s 700 million patrons make it the second most popular standalone messaging application in the world, surpassed only by Facebook-owned WhatsApp and its more than 1 billion users. Berlin-based Telegram reports just over 100 million. Other, less popular options include Signal, Line and Wire.
