WhatsApp introduces encrypted security feature

WhatsApp has introduced a security feature on its app that helps secure users texts and calls with another user.

It has added an end-to-end encryption to all its messages. 

This means that except the user himself, no one else, not even the Government, can have access to the messages nor the company can give any information even if it wanted to even in case of crisis or emergency. 

"No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us," according to the post on its app.

What WhatsApp's full end-to-end encryption means

WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption ensures only the sender and the receipient can read what is sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.
In simple words, the messages are secured with a lock, and only the recipient and the sender have the special key needed to unlock and read them. 
WhatsApp also doesn't store the messages on its servers once they are delivered.

However, the move by this Facebook-owned popular messaging service might lead to conflicts with law enforcement agencies at a time when several countries, where WhatsApp operates, is grappling with issues related to terrorism. WhatsApp and another application called Telegram were allegedly used by the perpetrators of the November 13 Paris terror attacks. 

But at the same time, such security measures will help stop sensitive records of users from being improperly accessed or stolen and thus curb cybercrime. 

WhatsApp's annoucement comes in a few days after US' premier investigative body FBI broke into an encrypted iPhone. It is yet to be seen that how the Indian Government authorities will react to this announcement as WhatsApp is being widely used in India and is an important market for the company, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for a whopping $19 billion in stock and cash.

WhatsApp is also facing troubles from the Indian telecom operators for its voice call feature as it might be a direct competition for them.

WhatsApp further added in the blog: "From now on when you and your contacts use the latest version of the app, every call you make, and every message, photo, video, file, and voice message you send, is end-to-end encrypted by default, including group chats."