Wednesday, February 19, 2025



Home Innovation Security FBI Urges iPhone and Android U...

FBI Urges iPhone and Android Users to Stop Sending Texts: Use Encrypted Messaging Instead


Security

FBI, Cyber security, Infrastructure, cyberattacks, Security, Android

The FBI and CISA warn of Chinese hacking threats, highlighting the need for secure communication practices.

The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a critical warning to U.S. citizens, asking them to stop sending unencrypted text messages. This is at a time when there are growing concerns over the security of communication networks, especially in the wake of recent cyberattacks linked to the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon. These attacks have targeted U.S. telecom infrastructure, raising alarms over the vulnerability of cross-platform messaging between iPhones and Android devices.

While messaging between devices from the same platform—iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android—is protected, text messaging between different kinds of platforms has been a very significant security gap. "The FBI and CISA urge the use of encrypted communication methods, including applications, to protect sensitive information from interception," the agencies said. Again, this is part of a broader effort to deal with cyber espionage activities targeting both personal and governmental communications.

Salt Typhoon, an organization affiliated with the Public Security Ministry of China, has infiltrated telecom networks and stolen hundreds of thousands of metadata messages from calls and texts. Most of the content is still secure, but certain private communications from government and political figures have been exposed. According to experts, the only security from this kind of attack is if the message is encrypted since it becomes unreadable for the hacker without the correct decryption keys.

Currently, encryption is advised both for messaging and voice calls. The FBI's suggestion reflects a growing awareness of the imperative to be responsible about encryption—ones that keep data secure but are also accessible through law when needed. Still, one major weakness is in the absence of encryption in cross-platform messaging applications, like SMS-based RCS (Rich Communication Services).

For Android and iPhone users, platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Facebook Messenger offer fully encrypted messaging. Experts suggest that these services should be prioritized over traditional SMS/RCS to mitigate the risk of data breaches. Meanwhile, Apple's iOS 18.2 update, expected this month, will allow iPhone users to switch their default messenger from iMessage, further enhancing communication security options.


Business News


Recommended News

×

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

please enter valid email

×