Secured texting – Future of safe mobile communication

Posted On October 20, 2023

Today, text messaging is the most common means of communication. Every day, we send texts to our family and friends to stay in touch. However, standard SMS text messages are not encrypted or secured, leaving our private conversations vulnerable. It is why secure and private messaging apps are becoming increasingly popular. 

Need for secured messaging 

Text messages need to be more secure for several reasons. Privacy is a top concern for the average consumer. Third parties can easily intercept and read completely unsecured SMS messages.  It leaves room for hacking, data leaks, and surveillance. Secured apps protect texts with end-to-end encryption so that only the sender and recipient access the contents. For enterprises and governments, confidentiality is critical. Regular text messaging is not compliant for sharing sensitive information. Secure apps provide the encryption required to meet security and compliance standards when communicating internally or with customers.

Risks of standard messaging

Let’s take a look at some of the risks that come with using regular, unsecured SMS and MMS for text messaging:

• Lack of Encryption – Standard texts are transmitted in plain text, leaving messages exposed to interception through cell towers or SS7 exploits.
• Metadata Collection – Even when the message contents are not visible, the metadata related to unsecured texts reveal a lot about the sender and recipient. 
• Message Stores on Servers – When you send standard texts, copies may be stored by your phone provider or device manufacturer, creating additional privacy and security risks.
• No Self-Destruct Feature – There’s no way to make standard messages disappear or delete themselves from the recipient’s phone automatically. 

Unsecured texting comes with numerous risks in today’s mobile landscape. For truly private conversations, users need messaging apps with built-in security.

Future of secured messaging

• Enhanced Encryption Standards – Expect stronger forms of encryption like quantum-resistant algorithms to improve privacy protections.
• Added Security Features – Self-destructing messages, screenshot blocking, and enhanced authentication will make apps even more secure.
• User Education – As secure messaging goes mainstream, tech companies will need to educate the public more on cybersecurity threats. 
• Accessibility Improvements – Features like encrypted transcripts and read receipts make private chat apps more user-friendly and transparent.
• Compliance & Enterprise Use – Businesses will continue adopting compliant end-to-end encrypted platforms for communication.
• Scalability and Reliability – secure text messaging apps need to scale securely as user bases grow into the billions.
• Standardization and Interoperability – New protocols may arise to connect secured apps across platforms and improve the overall private messaging ecosystem.
• Partnerships with Telcos and Device Makers – Working with telecom carriers and mobile phone developers to help make encrypted messaging features baked-in and universal.

The demand for safe and private texting will continue rising. This requires technology companies and privacy researchers to work together towards robust encryption standards and easy-to-use interfaces.