FBI Warns iMessage Is Not a Strongly Encrypted Messaging App

The FBI recently issued a warning urging iPhone users to stop using iMessage due to security concerns. The warning specifically pointed to a series of vulnerabilities that hacker groups like Salt Typhoon could exploit, and urged people to switch to apps that offer end-to-end encrypted messaging.

The warning is specifically aimed at iPhone users in the United States, who are more likely to use iMessage. While iMessage does offer some form of encryption, the FBI still recommends that users switch to a messaging platform with deeper and more extensive encryption like WhatsApp or Signal to protect against security risks.

Salt Typhoon is a hacker group believed to be linked to the Chinese state, and has been disbanded by a series of US security agencies including the FBI, CISA and NSA for its involvement in large-scale cyber espionage campaigns targeting US citizens and government agencies. The strong activities of these hacker groups in the past few years have prompted the FBI to repeatedly call on US citizens to limit their use of standard SMS and RCS messaging platforms.

The severity of Salt Typhoon's malicious activities is very high. Hackers have gained access to the call records of an unknown number of American customers. At least eight US companies have been affected, including the three major carriers T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T.

And it's not just an American problem. Salt Typhoon is also said to have hit several other countries in recent years, possibly in the dozens.

FBI Warns iMessage Is Not a Strongly Encrypted Messaging App Picture 1

Apple's iMessage is a hugely popular messaging service in the US because it's integrated into the closed iPhone ecosystem. However, in other parts of the world where Android dominates, iMessage's popularity is almost entirely confined to the minority iPhone user base. And there's a preference for more cross-platform messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, which also work well on both iOS and Android.

Earlier this year, WhatsApp also announced plans to allow interoperability with other apps through its new Universal Messaging system. That means users will soon be able to chat across platforms without switching apps. Signal has also made it possible to share links to video calls, similar to Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Samuel Daniel

Update 20 December 2024