Whatsapp introduces end-to-end encryption

     One of the most important topics that always came up in any discussion involving free messaging apps like Whatsapp, Telegram and Facebook Messenger is the issue of security. Although most of our daily chats with our friends and family have little relevance to snooping government agencies, the guarantee that our messages were secure an essential requirement for any insta-messaging app. This was one area where Telegram reigned over the Whatsapp and the rest, offering secret chats with end to end encryption and self-destructing messages with screenshot warnings. But Whatsapp have been trying to catch up, and now, they have finally introduced end to end encryption. On everything sent through it.
What is end to end encryption?
   

  Simply put, end to end encryption encrypts all messages sent using a cryptographic key present only on the sender's device, and is decrypted at the receiver's device, making it nearly impossible to obtain information regarding a message or eavesdrop on a conversation. Any attackers, possibly including governmental agencies and the company that provides the service itself, will only receive a jumble of nonsensical data.

Whatsapp has integrated their product with TextSecure software developed by the non-profit organisation Open Whisper Systems. If you are curious to know more about the technical details of TextSecure, take a look at this thorough paper. 

What does this mean for users?

     If you were worried about NSA snooping your chatlogs, you can confidently send what you want through Whatsapp right now. Keep in mind that the end to end encryption takes place only when the sender as well as the receiver has updated to the latest version of Whatsapp, and since this is quite a recent update, it will be a while before everyone has downloaded it.

     The encryption does not stop the receiver from showing/screenshotting your texts and showing them to whoever they wish, or a person with complete access to your phone from reading your messages. But this is surely a blow for Telegram as Whatsapp has now matched their most defining feature. Perhaps the only feature of Telegram that sets it apart from Whatsapp now is it's suppport of chat bots.

     What are your thoughts regarding messaging security, Whatsapp's new update, and Telegram? Let me know in the comments.