Neowin News Feed for: Encryption

EFF slams Meta for killing Instagram encrypted chats and blaming users

Paul Hill — Wed, 13 May 2026 08:46:01 +0000

Meta is under fire for ending Instagram's encrypted messaging. The EFF argues that privacy should be a default right, not a buried setting users are blamed for ignoring. Read more...

Apple finally brings end-to-end encryption to RCS on iPhone

Paul Hill — Tue, 12 May 2026 07:26:01 +0000

A massive privacy upgrade is rolling out for cross-platform chats. Find out how Apple's latest beta is changing the way you message Android users. Read more...

Proton launches Microsoft Office competitor bundle, with a focus on privacy

Usama Jawad — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:52:01 +0000

Proton launches Workspace bundle to rival Microsoft and Google, openly criticizes their data-driven business models. Read more...

Windows Kerberos hardening may cause authentication issues for some PCs next month

Usama Jawad — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:24:01 +0000

Microsoft has warned about a Windows authentication change next month, and if admins don't act in time, logins in some environments could suddenly start failing. Read more...

Microsoft reminds customers that they have complete control over their data

Usama Jawad — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:20:01 +0000

Microsoft has emphasized to customers that they have complete control over their data, just days after a report confirmed that the company had handed over some BitLocker encryption keys to the FBI. Read more...

A key component in Windows 11 is getting a huge performance boost soon

Usama Jawad — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 06:36:01 +0000

Microsoft is making significant enhancements to a core Windows 11 security feature, bringing performance improvements of up to 70%. Read more...

Let's Encrypt launches 'Generation Y,' shortens cert lifetimes to 45 Days

Paul Hill — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 06:48:01 +0000

The non-profit certificate authority is rolling out its new Generation Y hierarchy and will gradually shorten the default certificate validity period to 45 days. Read more...

The five biggest threats hidden in the EU's revised digital surveillance plan

Paul Hill — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:06:02 +0000

The worst detail from the EU's Chat Control proposals is gone, but there are still several threats. Here are the top five. Read more...

Tor network beefs up weak relay encryption method, reducing attack vector

Paul Hill — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:14:02 +0000

The Tor Project is replacing the tor1 relay encryption method with something called Counter Galois Onion to reduce tagging attacks. Read more...

Google Sheets now has "full support" for client-side encryption (CSE)

David Uzondu — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 04:36:01 +0000

Client-side encryption in Google Sheets has moved to general availability, boosting data security and compliance with customer-managed keys. Read more...

WhatsApp is building a close friends status feature for Android

Paul Hill — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:06:01 +0000

Meta is now working on the close friends status feature in Android just days after the feature was discovered in the iOS beta. Read more...

Report: Court documents reveal new details in UK-Apple user data dispute

David Uzondu — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:26:01 +0000

Apple's fight against the UK's demand for a backdoor into all iCloud users' encrypted data now has fresh details, reportedly revealed in a new court document. Read more...

Google launches dedicated Password Manager app for Android

Fiza Ali — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:16:01 +0000

Google has rolled out a new Android app, aiming to change how users access and manage their digital credentials. Read more...

WhatsApp's guest chats feature has a surprising catch

Paul Hill — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 05:04:01 +0000

Meta is developing a new feature for WhatsApp called guest chats that will let you have encrypted chats with people who don't have an account, but there are notable limitations. Read more...

Amid Windows 11 data loss fears, Ubuntu tests new feature that Windows users will want

Sayan Sen — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 20:06:01 +0000

Ubuntu has released details on hardware encryption, which is currently in testing. The features appear to be really cool and something Windows 11 users could find really helpful. Read more...

Google's silence on UK encryption demands spells wider trouble for users

Paul Hill — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:16:01 +0000

There is a strong indication that trouble is brewing for Google's ability to provide encrypted services in the UK. Read more...

Expert says XChat 'encryption' is misleading, since Elon Musk can still read your messages

David Uzondu — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 16:38:01 +0000

X's new encrypted chat feature, XChat, has raised concerns among experts over the fact that the company can still access your chats, despite claims of "Bitcoin-style" encryption. Read more...

Microsoft is now putting quantum encryption in Windows builds

Paul Hill — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:02:01 +0000

Microsoft has announced that it's beginning to put quantum encryption algorithms into Windows so that developers can start using them. It is designed to keep data safe from future quantum computers. Read more...

Gmail to drop support for 'outdated' 3DES encryption in incoming SMTP connections

David Uzondu — Wed, 07 May 2025 09:10:01 +0000

3DES has been around since 1978, but today, it's considered far less secure than modern standards. Google apps such as Chrome have already dropped support, and now Gmail is following suit. Read more...

Telegram CEO says French authorities demanded a backdoor to access users' messages

Hamid Ganji — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:56:01 +0000

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov revealed that the French police and European Commission are advocating for a law that forces messaging apps to implement a backdoor for authorities. Read more...

Rights groups demand public hearing on Apple's appeal over the UK's secret iCloud backdoor

David Uzondu — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:12:01 +0000

As expected, Apple will contest the UK mandate for an iCloud backdoor at tomorrow's secret hearing, a move that rights groups say should be open. Read more...

Microsoft wants you on AES as Windows 11 24H2, Server 2025 ditches ancient DES encryption

Sayan Sen — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 06:06:01 +0000

Microsoft is killing DES encryption on Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025 very soon and is recommending users to move to AES. Read more...

The U.K. government can now access your iCloud data after forcing Apple to weaken encryption

Karthik Mudaliar — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:32:01 +0000

The UK government has forced Apple to disable its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature, weakening iCloud encryption for users in the country and creating a backdoor for itself. Read more...

The U.K. government wants to spy on you via an iCloud backdoor and is seeking Apple's help

David Uzondu — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:24:01 +0000

A report reveals that U.K. authorities want Apple to build a backdoor to access all iCloud users' encrypted data. Read more...

Microsoft lists a reason why TPM, Secure Boot are required on Windows 11 in 2024-2025

Sayan Sen — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 11:42:01 +0000

Microsoft added a reason why features like TPM and Secure Boot are important on the latest version of Windows 11. Read more...

Microsoft fixes Outlook mail encryption label bug that won't let you select or change it

Sayan Sen — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:46:01 +0000

Following a couple of fixes earlier this month, Microsoft has now resolved an issue related to the Outlook mail encryption label. Read more...

Microsoft posts official BitLocker key recovery and back up guide for Windows 11/10 PCs

Sayan Sen — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:30:01 +0000

Microsoft has added new BitLocker encryption guides on its official website. These are meant to explain to users what BitLocker does and how to recover and/or back up the necessary BitLocker keys. Read more...

As Microsoft default-encrypts Windows 11, Linux is set to get a huge performance boost

Sayan Sen — Tue, 14 May 2024 00:12:01 +0000

Linux is about to get a huge performance boost in AES-XTS or AES encryption performance thanks to new improvements. This could tip people over to make the switch from Windows 11 24H2 over to Linux. Read more...

Meta begins rolling out E2E encryption on Messenger chats and calls

Paul Hill — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:06:01 +0000

Meta has announced an upcoming security update to Messenger and Facebook. It will switch on E2E encrypted messaging, the ability to edit messages, and much more. It'll arrive for all within months. Read more...

UK passes law that could see unruly tech bosses jailed

Paul Hill — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:58:01 +0000

The UK has finally passed the Online Safety Bill. It's a wide-reaching piece of legislation that aims to improve child safety online. It threatens tech bosses who don't comply with fines and jail. Read more...

VeraCrypt gets bootloader, memory encryption, UAC, Quick Format upgrades on Windows 11/10

Sayan Sen — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:42:01 +0000

VeraCrypt is a free encryption application that is pretty hardy. The app has received its latest update which brings several new features and improvements on Windows, macOS, as well as on Linux. Read more...

Gmail's client-side encryption is now available on Android and iOS

Aditya Tiwari — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:18:01 +0000

Gmail's client-side encryption is now available on Android and iOS devices for eligible users. The security feature getting a rapid release is supported on select editions of Google Workspace. Read more...

Microsoft Edge may soon get on-device encryption for passwords and auto-verify CAPTCHAs

Mehrotra A — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 04:12:02 +0000

Microsoft is planning to add on-device encryption that will encrypt passwords locally before saving as well as auto verification of CAPTCHA to verify you as a real human on websites. Read more...

Apple threatens to pull iMessage and FaceTime from UK

Paul Hill — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:30:01 +0000

Apple could pull iMessage and FaceTime from the UK if the government passes new measures. Under changes to law, Apple would be forced to disable security features without telling users. Read more...

Privacy protection amendments for encrypted messages added to UK bill

Paul Hill — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:20:01 +0000

A new amendment to the Online Safety Bill will require a report to be submitted by an expert before Ofcom can decrypt people's messages. It's designed to add balance to the safety bill. Read more...

Twitter is getting encrypted DMs, Musk confirms voice and video chat coming soon

Aditya Tiwari — Wed, 10 May 2023 07:14:02 +0000

Twitter is getting a bunch of new features such as DM Replies, a new emoji picker, and encrypted DMs, the company announced. In the future, Twitter will also add video and audio calling functionality. Read more...

Sync in Google Authenticator does not have E2E encryption yet, so use it at your own risk

Usama Jawad — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 06:12:02 +0000

Although Google Authenticator customers are rejoicing over the addition of sync functionality to the app, security researchers have noted that it does not have end-to-end encryption yet. Read more...

Client-side encryption for some Google Workspace plans are rolling out to users

Karthik Mudaliar — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:28:01 +0000

Google is rolling out support for client-side encryption generally for some Workspace plans. The feature was initially tested as part of beta in December last year and is now officially out. Read more...

Meta is switching some of your conversations to use encryption and enabling more features

Paul Hill — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 18:56:01 +0000

Meta has said it will randomly convert some Messenger conversations into encrypted chats in the coming months, by random selection. It has also enabled some new features in encrypted chats. Read more...

Elon Musk: Twitter will encrypt DMs, add voice and video chat

Justin Luna — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:54:01 +0000

Twitter is hard at work to make Direct Messages encrypted, according to its CEO Elon Musk. The company is also exploring the possibility of adding voice and video chat capabilities to DMs. Read more...