6th May, 2016
Viber, one of the world’s leading messaging apps with more than 711 million unique users worldwide has announced the complete end-to-end encryption across all devices which offers users benefit from increased security and privacy whatever the device or platform.
This new feature will strengthen security in every voice or video call, message, video and photo, in both group messages and one-to-one communication across devices like Android, iPhone, iPad, Android tablets, PC and Mac desktops.
“We take our users’ security and privacy very seriously, and it’s critical to us that they feel confident and protected when using Viber,” said Michael Shmilov, Chief Operating Officer of Viber.
As part of this update, Viber have also launched ‘Hidden Chats’ allowing users to hide specific chats from the main screen so no-one but the user knows they exist. These chats can only be accessed using a four digit PIN, providing an optional additional layer of privacy to users’ personal communications.
Shmilov disclosed that Viber have spent a long time working on this latest update to ensure that users have the most sophisticated security available and maximum control over their communications stressing that the company will continue to make this an ongoing priority as digital communication evolves.
He further noted that rolling out globally over the coming weeks, users will automatically be protected by end-to-end encryption in all communications on their smartphone once they have upgraded to the latest version of Viber – v6.0 or higher. Users who are also using Viber on an iPad, Android tablet or desktop will be prompted to re-connect it to their phone using a QR code.
All communications can benefit from an additional layer of security through account verification. Users will see a color-coded lock on the right hand side of the screen indicating the level of security.
“This latest update, along with the ‘Delete’ feature which allows users to delete messages on the recipient’s phone even after they’ve sent them whether the person has seen it or not demonstrates Viber’s increased focus on putting its users in control of their privacy and personal communications” he said.