WhatsApp rolls out end-to-end encrypted backups for Android and iOS

WhatsApp officially extends its end-to-end encryption (EE2E) for chat histories saved in Google Drive or iCloud.

In its mission to provide a safe and secure platform for its 1 billion users, WhatsApp is now rolling out its EE2E for chat histories. This makes it the first social messaging app to extend an “extra, optional layer of security” for messages, media, voice messages, video calls, and chat backups made in a third-party cloud hosting software.

WhatsApp users can secure their EE2E backups with a personally generated password and 64-digit encryption key. Neither of which will be accessible to WhatsApp or the backup service. Only the owner of the chat history will have access and must follow these steps to unlock it:

• Enter password, which is encrypted and then verified by the Backup Key vault.
• Once the password is verified, the Backup Key Vault will send the encryption key back to the WhatsApp client.
• With the key in hand, the WhatsApp client can then decrypt the backups.

Additionally, these prior steps must be followed to enable EE2E for backups in WhatsApp:

• Open Settings.
•Tap Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-end Encrypted Backup.
•Tap Continue, then follow the prompts to create a password or key.
•Tap Done, and wait for WhatsApp to prepare your end-to-end encrypted backup. Connect to a power source as it may take a while.

WhatsApp’s EE2E for backups is available for Android and iOS users. For more information, read our article on how it works here.