If there is something indispensable in the contemporary world, it’s digital communication. Not only are there more and better messaging and communication apps developed daily. Security mechanisms are better and designed to protect our personal data. The security mechanism we will check today is end-to-end encryption. This keeps personal information secret so that no one can access our sensitive data.
¿What is end-to-end encryption?
In End-to-end encryption, only users who maintain active communication can access messages. This practice prevents spies, including Internet providers, from accessing keys to decipher conversation.
This type of system prevents any attempt at surveillance, data theft or alteration. This is because no third party can decrypt the data that is being communicated or stored. If your company has end-to-end encryption, your customer’s text messages are safe. Thereby increasing the level of protection, trust, and confidentiality of your projects.
Since 2016, server-based communications systems do not include end-to-end encryption. This doesn’t guarantee the protection of communications between clients and their servers. It means that users must “trust” the apps that generate the original messages and save that information, which makes it obtainable.
The security in encryption is that it reduces the number of parties that can interfere. In the case of instant messaging, users can install a third-party client to use end-to-end encryption.
How does end-to-end encryption work?
One of the highlights of encryption is the way in which keys work. Take, for example, the WhatsApp case. They have implemented end-to-end encryption for a few years to protect your conversations.
The way in which these encryption works is simple. The storing of the conversation keys was in a centralized server managed by WhatsApp. Now, it works by storing those encryption keys in the device of each user. This way, keys cannot get intercepted by any person outside the conversation. And through a protocol that issues a new password for each new message, they get protected. Not even WhatsApp staff has access to those communications. The only way to get our conversations is if someone took our device, where the information decryption mechanism occurs.
This end-to-end encryption protocol prevents third parties from accessing the source code. Even if the encryption keys of a user device leak, they don’t work. They can’t decrypt messages sent or before the time of the privacy breach.
The importance of security
What we must keep in mind is that the internet has become the largest database in the world. That is why every day we strive to improve the way we protect such data. There’s been a significant increase in hackers, digital spying and many other problems. This has prompted developers to improve defense systems to make communication more secure.
Vulnerabilities of encryption
Now that we understand how it works, we must understand how it can fail. End-to-end encryption is not infallible, and we must know how to protect ourselves from attacks.
Broker Attacks
Although encryption ensures that the transferred data remains secure, there are ways to bypass it. A hacker could, instead of trying to break the encryption, impersonate one of the recipients. This way, the encryption of the messages generates keys for the attacker. After decrypting the message, it can be re-encrypted with a new key shared with the actual recipients.
Backdoors
Certain companies can generate “backdoors” to their software. These allow them to stop the negotiation of the key or to avoid the encryption. It is a “secret” and, in many respects, illegal method, in which companies ensure access to information. In 2013, for example, Skype had a backdoor. It allowed Microsoft to deliver messages from its users to the NSA. All this even with encrypted messages. 
One of the safest ways to protect our messages is to rely on security software for end-to-end encryption, such as Bomgar Vault. This is the technology that uses the services of Remote Support, Encryption and Digital Security to protect assets and assets, as well as tools such as Remote Desktop and Key Management.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this tool, do not hesitate to contact us. At GB Advisors we offer the best in the market, and we offer you a team of professionals willing to advise you and accompany you on your way to a more efficient IT environment.
