Apple has announced a significant upgrade in the encryption security of iMessage with the PQ3 protocol, which supports resistance to quantum-level attacks. This encryption is referred to by Apple as level 3 encryption and marks the first instance of messaging apps adapting to this level.
Prior to this upgrade, iMessage was using level 1 encryption, which wasn’t secure against quantum attacks. Other chat apps like LINE, Viber, WhatsApp were also using level 1 encryption, while Signal recently upgraded to level 2.
The design of level 3 security involves the use of PQC (post-quantum cryptography) keys that are continuously generated over time, making attacks significantly more challenging. The PQ3 encryption standard will be gradually rolled out to all iMessage users on iOS and macOS starting from iOS 17.4, and will eventually extend to other online services like iCloud.
TLDR: Apple is enhancing iMessage security with the quantum-resistant PQ3 protocol, marking a significant advancement in encrypted messaging.
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