Apple iMessage now offers protection against attacks from quantum computers.
Apple prides itself on the security and privacy of its users, and now the company is bringing a new layer of protection to its iMessage users that will keep them safe from future attacks. The company is now preparing for attacks that can be carried out with quantum computers, which include an advanced level of encryption standard that we are yet to see in the mainstream industry.
Apple’s new standard is called the PQ3 protocol, which is compatible with iMessage and will soon be rolled out to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even Apple Watch users. Apple says that by using the PQ3 protocol for iMessages, it can protect hackers from decrypting its content using quantum computers.
The new standard is currently only available on one additional platform and that is the Signal app. WhatsApp, iMessage and Signal already have encryption, but security experts say it will be difficult for secure conversations to remain encrypted when hackers try to crack the encryption using powerful quantum computers.
iMessage has been hotly debated these days, all thanks to the European Union (EU) cracking down on tech giants like Apple with a new Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, Apple has managed to limit the new rule’s reach and access to its messaging platform simply by claiming less than a dominant market share.
Bringing such features protects iPhone users, and this may be Apple’s way of telling the EU that stifling technology does not bode well for the industry’s future. When can iPhone users expect this advanced security feature to be available in iMessage?
Apple says that iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4 and similar updates for Mac and Apple Watch will get the PQ3 standard, which will automatically start working for messages sent and received on supported devices.
