If you want to send messages without worrying that other people might be poking around in the texts you're sending, you should be using an encrypted messaging service.
There's never a true guarantee that what you're doing writing isn't going to be viewed -- often our own mistakes can lead to vulnerabilities that leave us wide open, but using encrypted messages is certainly a step in the right direction.
If you're unfamiliar, encryption helps jumble the content of a message into random data until it's received on the other end and the original message is compiled back together again. This means if anyone intercepts the message -- a hacker for example -- it's mostly just jumbled characters and symbols. Keep in mind that this doesn't protect your messages from being seen if your device is ever compromised — if someone has access to your phone (or the person you're sending messages to) they can read the messages.
If you want to encrypt your messages on iPhone and Android, here are some tips.
Use iMessage
If you're on an iPhone and texting to someone who also has an iPhone, your messages are already going to be secure thanks to the encryption keys Apple already keeps in iMessage. This isn't the case if you're sending a regular "green" bubble text message to another phone that isn't an iPhone, it's only the case with "blue" bubble messages between iPhones, iPads and Macs. If you're on Android, move along to the next step. iMessage is probably the most fun of the encrypted apps, too, since it supports third-party apps, the ability to pay people with Apple Pay Cash, Animoji and more.
Oneoption for Android and iPhone: Signal
One go-to app for folks who want encrypted messages is Signal. It's available on iPhone and Android and is really easy to use. First you download the app then register your phone number. On Android, you can even set it to be the default messaging app (though again, you'll want to make sure you're sending messages to someone who's also using Signal to ensure encryption.) When you send a message to someone without Signal, it will ask you to invite that person to use the app. Do this and your messages will be encrypted.
Signal also has additional security features including options to block others from taking screenshots, disabling keyboards that learn from what you type, and the option to set a password to open the app. There's an option to make messages disappear after 5 seconds, which is convenient if you're worried about someone going through your phone.
Finally, Signal shows you the "safety" number that you can compare with the person you're chatting to to make sure that the conversation is secure.
WhatsApp works on phones and the web, too
The WhatsApp app
Dado Ruvic | Reuters
WhatsApp is another option that works for Android and iPhone. Like iMessage, it also offers end-to-end encryption that theoretically keeps the contents safe from anyone outside the WhatsApp conversation. WhatsApp doesn't require you to change any settings -- everything is already encrypted by default. It also promises that it doesn't store any of the messages on its servers, which means your messages are kept locally on the phones they're sent and received from. WhatsApp also has a web interface, so you can chat from a web browser on your computer, too.
FAQs
Why are my texts not end-to-end encrypted? When people with iPhones and Android phones text each other, Apple relies on SMS and MMS, outdated and less secure systems that do not support end-to-end encryption.
Can you encrypt text messages on an iPhone? ›
End-to-end encryption
With watchOS, iOS, and iPadOS, your messages are encrypted on your device so they can't be accessed without your passcode. iMessage and FaceTime are designed so that there's no way for Apple to read your messages when they're in transit between devices.
Does Android encrypt text messages? ›
When you message someone who also has RCS chats turned on in Google Messages, your chat conversations automatically upgrade to end-to-end encryption. With end-to-end encryption, no one can read the content sent between you and the other person.
What texting app is encrypted? ›
Signal is a messaging app with privacy at its core. It is free and easy to use, with strong end-to-end encryption that keeps your communication completely private. Send texts, voice messages, photos, videos, GIFs, and files for free. Signal uses your phone's data connection, so you avoid SMS and MMS fees.
What is an iMessage encryption key? ›
iMessage uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that only the sender and recipient of a message can read it. To achieve this strong security property, each device in a user's iMessage account generates its own set of encryption keys, and the private keys are never exported to any external system.
What does an encrypted message look like? ›
You'll get a banner that says “ Chatting with [contact name or phone number]” when end-to-end encryption is active in a conversation. Your messages will also include a lock on the send button. The timestamps of end-to-end encrypted messages also have a lock .
Can you encrypt a text file? ›
Step-by-Step Guide to Password Protection a Text File
Open the text file you want to encrypt using a text editor of your choice. Go to the “File” menu and select “Save As…” to create a new, encrypted version of the file. Choose a secure password that is easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
Are SMS text messages encrypted? ›
Encryption is a method used to encode information, ensuring that only authorized parties can access and understand it. However, traditional SMS messages lack robust encryption.
Are text messages private? ›
Like e-mail, SMS is not end-to-end encrypted; the message may remain stored on a server for some time, allowing bad actors to read it at a later date. There are a number of attack scenarios that can allow a malicious party to obtain SMSes that are intended for someone else.
Can iPhone users see if I read their message on Android? ›
iPhone to Android
The problem with SMS messaging is that it does not support read receipts. This means that you will not be able to see if the recipient has read your message or not.
However, RCS is not universally supported across all Android devices and carriers. If both the sender and recipient have RCS enabled on their Android devices, and the carrier supports RCS, then the iPhone user may receive a read receipt when the message is read [1].
Can iPhone users see when Android users are typing? ›
The adoption of RCS will essentially enable iPhone and Android users to enjoy features such as read receipts, typing indicators, and the ability to send high-resolution images and videos when texting between iPhone and Android devices. These features will be available via the simple text messages.
Why can't I send messages to Android from iPhone? ›
The reason you're not able to send to non-iPhone users is that they don't use iMessage. It sounds like your regular (or SMS) text messaging isn't working, and all your messages are going out as iMessages to other iPhones. When you try to send a message to another phone that doesn't use iMessage, it won't go through.
