Author Juli Reading 6 min Views 5.2k. Posted by 08/15/2019

Many users are concerned about the privacy and security of online communication. Nobody wants personal or business information to fall into the wrong hands. Messenger developers are not going to absolve themselves of responsibility and are constantly thinking about how to protect user correspondence from hacking and data theft. In 2016, Viber engineers announced that they were introducing end-to-end encryption (end-to-end encryption) in the application. Let's tell you whether you should worry when you see the inscription "Messages in this conversation are encrypted", what it means, what it is for and how this method works. nine0005

Many users are concerned about the security of communication and confidentiality of information on the network. Messenger developers are constantly improving programs to protect correspondence. In 2016, Viber announced the introduction of a new way to transfer data end-to-end encryption (end-to-end encryption).

What does this mean and how to understand the inscription "Messages in this conversation are encrypted", later in the article.

Contents

1. How end-to-end encryption works
2. Why you need it
3. The essence of End-To-End encryption
4. Private keys
5. Is it possible to remove end-to-end encryption
6. What does the padlock icon mean
7. Encrypted chat
8. Can I get access to 9018 On which versions of Viber can I get access 9018 to correspondence law enforcement officers

How end-to-end encryption works

End-to-end encryption is a way to protect correspondence. All information is encrypted when sent from the phone of one subscriber and decrypted when received by another subscriber on his device. nine0005

No further action is required to enable this feature. It is set by default after activating the application and affects personal communication, group chats, voice and video calls.

This technology creates a channel that uses an encrypted code instead of plain and understandable text. The key to decrypt the code is only in the participants of the dialogue. Data passes from one user to another through the Viber server. Neither the service itself, nor the Internet provider, nor anyone who tries to hack Viber will be able to read this code. nine0005

If the subscriber turns off the phone or the Internet does not work for him, the message is stored in encrypted form on the server. As soon as the interlocutor is available, it will be sent to his device and decrypted there.

End-to-end protection works on all devices connected to the profile. If you use the application simultaneously on your phone, tablet or laptop, a secure channel is connected for all devices.

Why

This mechanism is used to permanently protect the confidentiality and integrity of the transmission of information. Confidentiality is supported by the fact that only the participants in the conversation have access to the original text of the message. No one should be able to decrypt them. nine0005 Information about data encryption methods.

Integrity guarantees protection against targeted attacks or accidental changes.

Any malformed message will be considered corrupt and insecure. The system will reject it.

Before this feature appeared, the security of correspondence looked like this. The data was encrypted - sent to the messenger server - decrypted there, stored in history - encrypted again - getting to the recipient, decrypted again. nine0005

A third party appeared in the chain, since the service support had access to the transmitted messages.

At the moment, the company's policy guarantees complete privacy. It only stores encrypted information on its servers, but cannot collect, sell and distribute it for transfer to unauthorized persons. Messages are not decrypted by the server, and the history of correspondence is stored on the devices that were used for communication.

Essence of End-To-End encryption

End-to-end encryption, end-to-end encryption, end-to-end encryption, end-user encryption - designations for one process.

Its essence is that all user messages are encrypted in Viber. The service automatically generates keys for the exchange of encrypted information. This happens when you install the app and start chatting.

Keys are divided into open (public) and closed (private) and are stored on the gadget. nine0005

• The public key is sent to the server.
• Private remains on your device.
• The incoming information is decrypted with the private key.

The principle of operation for the interlocutor remains the same.

The end-to-end encryption function only works when transferring data. When the information arrives on your phone, the encryption stops working.

Private keys

During the correspondence of users, special cryptography is used to encrypt data. Viber automatically generates different pairs of 256-bit keys called public and private. The public key is sent to the server. nine0005

Hidden keys are needed to decode incoming messages and are only visible on the client machine. Other devices linked to this account receive a copy of the private key from the main one.

The program constantly changes session keys. Previously generated ones are not reused. One specific key encrypts its small portion of messages. This provides forward and reverse secrecy - additional data protection.

If attackers can pick up the key, then only those messages that are encoded with this key will be decrypted. Neither previous correspondence nor future messaging will be affected. nine0005

Is it possible to remove end-to-end encryption

Encryption is enabled at the installation stage. The messenger will encrypt messages even on a mobile phone, even on a computer.

This function cannot be disabled. The only option to remove end-to-end encryption in Viber is to install the old version of the application, without such protection.

What does the lock icon mean?

After creating a secret chat, a lock appears on its profile picture. It denotes the protection of any message in this dialog. The icon may have different colors. nine0005

• Gray - the conversation in this chat is encrypted.
• Green - you have confirmed the key with yourself and your interlocutor (passed verification).
• Red - the user has changed the number or the channel has been hacked.

Detailed instructions can be seen on the video:

Encrypted chat

All your conversations, group chats and communities you belong to are end-to-end encrypted. This is checked as follows:

• Open any chat or group. nine0019
• Click on the three dots in the top right corner.
• Switch from the expanded list to the Information tab.
• Look for the shield icon and the notification "Messages you send to this chat are end-to-end encrypted in Viber."

Once such an encrypted chat is configured, it does not need to be rebuilt. You will need a new session if you reinstall the app or change your device to a new one.

The application supports creating a secret chat. It also has an encryption function and additional protection. Information is deleted after a specified time, it cannot be restored, forwarded, or a screenshot of the correspondence can be taken. nine0005

For greater secrecy, you can create a hidden chat with any contact in the phone book. Such dialogs are available only after entering the PIN code. They do not interfere with normal communication. This option is easy to remove.

Which versions of Viber use end-to-end encryption

End-To-End encryption works:

• on iOS / Android - from version 6.0 and later,
• Viber for PC - 6.0 and later,
• for Windows 10 - all versions.

Protection does not work with other platforms or older versions of the application.

Can law enforcement officers get access to correspondence

Based on the new rules, the messenger is required to request personal information. This is a phone number that allows you to identify the user.

This data may be used for transmission to law enforcement agencies. But no files, texts, audio or video can be provided. The service does not store them on its equipment. Those messages that have not reached the recipient are stored in encrypted form and it will be almost impossible to decrypt them. Thus, the secrecy of the correspondence is preserved. nine0005

Thanks to end-to-end encryption in Viber, you can not be afraid of hacking personal and work correspondence. Chat on any topic using a secure free service.

How to encrypt correspondence in viber?

In one of the Viber updates, the developers have implemented an end-to-end feature to protect the data transmitted between users. In this regard, the question arises, what is end-to-end encryption in Viber, how does it work, and whether there are the very keys that Roskomnadzor is chasing. Let's figure it out. nine0005

Contents

• How encryption works
• Types of encryption
• Is it possible to crack encryption keys
• End-to-end encryption in Viber: how does it work?
• How to make a hidden chat on iOS and Android
• Further work with hidden conversations
• How to enter a hidden conversation on Iphone and Android
• How to make a chat visible?
• Don't forget about Secret Chats
  • Useful materials:

How encryption works

First you need to understand that when you send a message in Viber, it goes through many nodes. The message has an address where it should reach. This address is the recipient's IP.

Roughly speaking, when you connect to a wi-fi network at home, your message first gets to the router. He "looks" at it, sees the recipient's address, the same IP and "understands" that the message is not for him. Further, sends it to the Viber server. The message is then sent to the recipient. nine0005

Messages are not stored on Viber's servers, but are only sent through it to the addressee. The exception is when the subscriber's phone is turned off or there is no Internet connection. The message will be stored on the server until the connection on the recipient's phone is restored. This means that intelligence agencies or hackers can connect to the server and intercept sensitive data. In this regard, Viber has added an end-to-end encryption feature to protect users and their correspondence.

Encryption is the transformation (or alteration) of the original message in order to hide from unauthorized persons.

This is a type of message transmission in which only the users participating in the communication have access to it.

That is, if you send a message from your smartphone to, say, your friend, it is encrypted on your phone with a special key. It is sent to the server in encrypted form. From there it is sent to your friend, and he, using the same secret key, decrypts the message on his phone and reads it. In the opposite direction, respectively, the same thing happens. nine0005

Simply put, if an attacker gains access to Viber's servers and somehow manages to intercept the message, instead of the word "Hi" that we send, he will see a set of meaningless characters. And only the recipient can decrypt this character set.

Encryption types

Everything seems to be fine, but there is one small but! As you already understood, in order to encrypt and decrypt a message, you need a secret key. But we can't transmit the secret key over an open channel?! In this case, attackers will intercept it and can read our correspondence. nine0005

From here we have two options:

Option number one - we can personally meet with our friend and agree on which key we will use. In this case, we will have the same secret key. We will use it to encrypt messages, and our friend will decrypt. Such an encryption algorithm is called symmetric. It is considered the safest, but has a significant drawback - in order to transfer the code, we need to meet with a friend in person.

Option number two - to encrypt messages in Viber when transferring information to a friend who lives on another continent, an asymmetric encryption method is used. The whole trick is that we will not have one code for two, there are already two keys. The first is called public. In principle, we can transfer it to anyone and, accordingly, send it over an insecure communication channel. With it, we will encrypt our messages. The second key is called private - with the help of it we will decrypt letters. nine0005

Public and private keys are fundamentally different, but they fit together. Here you can draw an analogy with a lock and a key. The public key is the lock, and the private key is the key that opens the lock.

This private (or secret) key is only stored on our device.

When you create a chat, you exchange public keys with a friend.

When you send a message, you encrypt the message with your friend's public key. This message is sent to the server. In this case, the server does not save it, but only sends it to the subscriber. The recipient uses their private key to decrypt your message. And voila - he sees not abracadabra, but ordinary, understandable text. This whole process happens instantly. If it weren't for the notification at the beginning of the chat - "The messages you send to this chat are protected by Viber encryption" you would not have known about this feature. nine0005

Is it possible to crack encryption keys

In connection with the tragic events associated with terrorist acts around the world, Roskomnadzor and providers, fulfilling the Yarovoy agreement, in this case can only intercept and save the encrypted message. But even a supercomputer will not be able to decipher it during the entire existence of the universe.

Interception of such a public code by a hacker will do nothing. Each such key contains 2048 bits of information. For you to understand, there are fewer stars in the universe than options for selecting combinations. nine0005

Due to the fact that Viber does not store user messages on its servers, they cannot be hacked in any way.

The exception is backup and storage of copies on cloud services iCloud and Google drive. The privacy policy and protection of the user from hacking does not apply to the storage of a copy.

In this regard, the secret services still have a chance to get the encryption key. The thing is that Viber is installed on the operating systems Android, Windows, iOS and so on. And these companies that maintain and develop these operating systems have access to proprietary codes. In theory, they can use these keys. Well, even if providers, the FSB or Roskomnadzor receive all these encryption keys, the amount of data is so huge that it is physically impossible to track it completely. nine0005

On the part of Viber, you do not have to worry about the confidentiality of your correspondence.

On the other hand, if you are interested in how to remove end-to-end encryption in Viber. We want to disappoint you. This feature is built in by default. If you do not want to use the encryption function, you should switch to another communication channel.

In fact, the principle of encryption is a little more complicated than we have tried to explain in this article. If everything was so simple, our correspondence would have become public a long time ago. And anyone could hack chats and read messages. But even if Viber guarantees the security of data confidentiality, he is not responsible for mobile operators. Experts say that as long as the messenger is tied to a mobile phone number, it is rather useless. The fact is that it is much easier to intercept SMS for registration and authorization today than to crack encryption. nine0005

Almost all developers of modern instant messengers began to take care of the security of their customers and anonymity. Most users choose the program according to this criterion. In 2016, Viber developers announced that they were introducing end-to-end encryption into their messenger. Let's see how message encryption works in Viber and what is meant by this abbreviation. You can also read information about why the photo of the interlocutor is not visible in Viber and you can solve this problem. nine0005

End-to-end encryption in Viber: how does it work?

The developers decided to follow the example of the creators of another popular application - WhatsApp. True, unlike their competitors, the creators of Viber wrote the protection program on their own. Let's see how inter-subscriber traffic encryption works in Viber. In the next section, you will find instructions on how to read someone else's correspondence in Viber and whether this is possible.

End-to-end encryption implies the storage of keys on the devices of users between which information is exchanged. Each user uses a public and private key. They are generated automatically at the time of installing the application on your device and the device of the interlocutor:

• The public part is sent to the messenger server:
• closed remains on your mobile device;
• it facilitates the decryption of incoming messages;
• exactly according to the same principle, the protection of your interlocutor works.

Viber encrypts messages regardless of the device on which the program client is installed. To hack messages in Viber from someone else's account, use the instructions on our website.

Find out if it is possible to install Viber on a PC without a phone number. nine0005

We'll tell you how it works. And including how to hide correspondence on iPhone and Android in Viber and enter it after exiting.
Sometimes we do not want to advertise our communication with some person, or several people. To eliminate the risk of reading correspondence with him / them by strangers, use the special messenger function that allows you to make chats invisible.

How to make a hidden chat on iOS and Android

You can make a dialog invisible in the literal sense. Even you will not see it until you open it with a pin code. But first things first. Let's start with how to hide conversations in Viber on Android:

• Launch the application, go to the chat list.
• Find the contact you want to hide and select it (long press).
• Select Hide from the context menu.
• Enter a 4-digit code.

Or:

• From the list of chats, go to the chat with the desired Viber contact.
• Tap the three dots icon at the top of the screen/swipe the screen to the left.
• Choose "Hide".
• Enter code.

Important: Learn more about hidden chats in Viber and secret app dialogs.

Hidden correspondence in Viber on iPhone is done like this:

• In the running messenger, select the desired chat.
• Swipe left on the username you don't want to show chat with.
• Swipe the screen to the left
• Choose "Hide".

Option 2:

• Go to the chat and click on the name above
nine0018 Select "Information and settings".

• Press the desired button
• Enter PIN code or use Touch ID.

In the future, you will need the password that you entered at the request of the system to enter the hidden Viber dialog. If you forget it, you will not be able to restore the numbers. You can only reset the pin code. However, this will automatically delete secret correspondence. If you're not sure about your memory, try using a key manager (like keepass). nine0005

Further work with hidden messages

Surely you have already begun to think that notifications will come anyway, and if they are displayed on the screen, then someone can see them. The secret will cease to be a secret and doubts creep in whether it is possible to hide the correspondence in Viber so that there is not even a hint of it. There really is nothing to worry about.

Notifications will indeed come in the mode set for the application. However, this will only be a beep + New Message popup, with no indication of who and without displaying the content of the email. If an outsider decides to view notifications, then they will not see anything new in the list of conversations. nine0005

We figured out how to hide the dialogue and on what principle notifications come in it. Now about how to find hidden correspondence in Viber after you have switched to another conversation or left the messenger. Go to the list of chats. As you can see, the previously hidden conversation is not displayed.

How to enter a hidden conversation on Iphone and Android

Do this:

• Open the chat screen.
• Slide the screen down(For Iphone) or click the search icon(For Android). nine0019
• In the search window that appears, enter the pin code / enter the name of the person, then the pin code.

Learn more about how to open a hidden chat in Viber)

How to make a chat visible?

To open hidden correspondence in Viber, you will need several movements:

• • Go to the dialogue list.
  • There is a search box at the top of the screen.

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