Redmond-based company, Microsoft has finally rolled out end-to-end encryption for private conversations on Skype. For the unaware, end-to-end encryption ensure the chat content between two people is hidden in both the chat list and the notifications. Other popular messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger are already offering end-to-end encryption for quite some time, and Microsoft's rollout on Skype should be termed as a delayed one. This feature comes after months of testing and is now available for all users on Skype iOS, Android, Linux, Mac and Windows, tech website MSPoweruser.com reported late on Monday.
Having said that, Microsoft is yet to confirm the availability of end-to-end encryption on Skype though. The new encryption feature could be activated from a "New Private Conversation" option that is now part of the "Compose" menu or from the recipient's profile.
Users could participate in only one private conversation from a single device at a time, and on switching the conversation to other devices, the messages they send and receive would be tied to the device they would be using at the time, the report added. In January, Microsoft said they would offer the encryption feature for audio calls, text messaging and image, audio and video file transmissions.
Except for making the communication channel secure, end-to-end encryption also ensures that messages stored on servers could only be read by those involved in the communications. With the resurgence of platforms such as Slack, the craze for Microsoft's Skype has faded away. Since the last couple of years, Microsoft has been adding new features every now and then to Skype to make it a default option for businesses and organisations.
With Inputs from IANS.
