Security and confidentiality have always been a priority for Apple. And today, the Cupertino firm proves it again by announcing an important update for the encryption of texts on its Imessage protocol. On updatesiOS 17.4, iPados 17.4, macOS 14.4 and Watchos 10.4, Apple will start to deploy a new end -to -end encryption system for iMessage texts, called PQ3.
And if this update is important, it is because it will allow texts to be protected against threats from the future: quantum computers. In its publication, Apple explains that current encryption algorithms are based on mathematical problems that are difficult to solve for computers.
"A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could solve these classic mathematical problems in fundamentally different ways and, therefore, in theory, quickly enough to threaten the security of encrypted communications from start to finish", adds the firm. In other words, later, there will later be powerful computers to eliminate encryption systems currently used.
Apple does not laugh with safety
Apple anticipates the arrival of this new threat, by proposing post-quantic encryption on iMessage, even if it indicates that computers capable of carrying out these attacks do not yet exist to date. With PQ3 encryption, Apple is positioned as a pioneer in communications safety, and also follows the recommendations of experts who believe that it is necessary, as of now, to secure communications against quantum computers.
"With an encryption resistant to compromises and extended defenses against quantum attacks, even the most sophisticated, PQ3 is the first messaging protocol to achieve what we call level 3, offering protocol protections that surpass those of all other widely deployed messaging applications", writes the firm.
Apple also recalls, in its advertisement, that when it released Imessage in 2011, it was the first consumer messaging to use end -to -end encryption by default. As a reminder, this type of encryption masks the content when it goes through the servers of the company which offers messaging.
Otherwise, it is recalled that Apple is also preparing to update the iPhone so that it supportsThe RCS messaging protocol.This protocol will allow iPhone and Android users to communicate without going through SMS or third -party messaging services like WhatsApp. RCS technology also supports end -to -end encryption. But thanks to PQ3 technology, Apple now has a way to distinguish texts between iPhone from those between iPhone and Android, in terms of safety.
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