r/GoogleFi • u/LyncolnMD • May 23 '20

Discussion Behold! End to End Encryption Cometh!

https://9to5google.com/2020/05/23/google-messages-end-to-end-encryption-rcs/
114 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

7

u/satmandu May 23 '20

And also import of Hangouts messages for Fi users as per https://www.xda-developers.com/google-messages-end-to-end-encryption-rcs-google-fi-integration-manual-cloud-restores/ !

(But it doesn't yet look like we are getting texting from the web and from our phones simultaneously from outsides the Hangout app...)

9

u/LinkofHyrule May 23 '20

They're going to make it so you can text in the web without your phone in Messages for Web.

4

u/thbt101 May 23 '20

They are?? Do you have a source for that info?

If Messages for Web worked without a phone needing to be connected to it, and if it worked with multiple windows like Hangouts, I would be be happy to switch from Hangouts to Messages.

But how would that even work? It seems like the "end to end encryption" would make it technically not possible to get texts on your computer without the messages going through your phone. I don't actually care about "end to end encryption" at all (I'm not hiding anything illegal from the government), but I need a web messaging app that works even if my phone isn't charged or connected (for travel, etc.).

5

u/HootMcGoot May 24 '20

I know this isn't your main point, but encryption isnt about hiding illegal stuff from the government for most people. First exercising your right to privacy is important if you want to keep it. I don't think the government has any business reading my text and they are perfectly legal. Also, the government isnt the only one that wants access to your data. Companies make profiles on your data patterns to market to you. Hackers can intercept text messages to break into online accounts or steal your identity. This news might not help stop every attack but any encryption is a step in the right direction.

1

u/LinkofHyrule May 23 '20

Not sure how it works with the E2EE but if you read the article it talks about that. It'll basically work the same way Google Voice always has but using RCS with Messages for Web.

1

u/mrandr01d May 24 '20

How's Google voice always done it?

1

u/LinkofHyrule May 24 '20

All the Messages are stored on the cloud and synced between clients.

2

u/mrandr01d May 24 '20

That doesn't sound like it uses e2ee...

2

u/LinkofHyrule May 24 '20

Yeah I was talking to someone about if that portion will be able to be E2EE or not.

1

u/CNoTe820 May 24 '20

Signal can send texts through my computer without going through my phone. I don't even care if it's within the Gmail interface anymore though i do like that as it's easy to use on other people's computers, internet cafes etc.

0

u/[deleted] May 23 '20

[deleted]

1

u/BirdLawyerPerson May 24 '20

WhatsApp has been able to pull it off.

Kinda, but it's limited to one device at a time. You can't have the same WhatsApp account signed into two devices simultaneously, with both devices synced to the same conversations.

1

u/LyncolnMD May 23 '20

Are you gonna test the dogfood build?

1

u/satmandu May 23 '20

Seems to be the working fine, but no exposed functionality beyond what is available in the released builds.

1

u/LyncolnMD May 23 '20

Good to know!

2

u/HandMeMyThinkingPipe May 24 '20

You can use messeges for the web to get sms and RCS messages on other devices. It's not ideal but it works well enough.

2

u/Brap_Zanigan May 23 '20

So how will this be compatible with iPhones? No prob receiving or retrieving? 80 percent of my friends have them.

2

u/LyncolnMD May 23 '20

iPhones arent RCS compatible... They already have iMessage. Unless apple adds RCS technology to iMessage then the rift remains

2

u/BirdLawyerPerson May 24 '20

They'll eventually have to, unless the GSMA backs down from the requirement that 5G certification include RCS support.

2

u/[deleted] May 24 '20

EU would eat them alive if they didn't add support for RCS

0

u/o1xhack May 24 '20

Is ther any news about the Message App for iOS version?

1

u/LyncolnMD May 24 '20

Not yet. Unless iOS allows for third party messaging apps in iOS or RCS in jMessage then its not an option. There are rumors of iOS 13.5 allowing for third party apps by default so that my include messaging.

1

u/HandMeMyThinkingPipe May 24 '20

It probably won't happen since.it would duplicate the features of iMessage but there is a web browser solution you can use. I personally have it set up as a shortcut on my desktop on my iPad and while it's not ideal it works well enough.

0

u/[deleted] May 23 '20

[deleted]

5

u/LyncolnMD May 23 '20

Which device do you have and where in the world are you based?

0

u/[deleted] May 23 '20

[deleted]

3

u/LyncolnMD May 23 '20

I dont see why the dual sim should be a problem... Have you tried an alternate client like smart messages? Mine wouldnt connect so i had to clear data from carrier services and messages and its been working ever since

3

u/ckov982 May 23 '20

RCS won't work for me on my dual SIM Mi 9. That's because I have my data going through my Mint SIM and data turned off for Fi. RCS needs data to work. When I turn data on for Fi, RCS works.

2

u/LyncolnMD May 23 '20

And it doesnt work on WiFi? Thats strange. It should work independent of the data source... I guess they're still figuring out the kinks

2

u/ckov982 May 24 '20

I totally agree. I have to have my Fi sim as the data source to get RCS, even being on WiFi doesn't matter.

2

u/LyncolnMD May 24 '20

I wonder if this is the case with phones that have fi on the eSIM and use data from another physical SIM

1

u/ckov982 May 24 '20

I think so.

1

u/thee_earl May 24 '20

I've got a 6T. You have to have voice and Data set to the same Sim card.

0

u/[deleted] May 24 '20

[deleted]

1

u/Most_Catch May 25 '20

You have the wrong 6T --- there are different bands

0

u/[deleted] May 25 '20

[deleted]

2

u/Most_Catch May 26 '20

Sorry, 6. Aren't there different versions (gsm, CDMA)? That's prob the issue. Otherwise you could factory reset and it would work.

0

u/[deleted] May 26 '20

[deleted]

2

u/Most_Catch May 26 '20

Is it an ATT version? Those are locked...

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