Why end-to-end encryption is essential for online privacy

Online privacy is under constant threat from hackers, surveillance, and data breaches. One of the strongest defenses against unauthorized access is end-to-end encryption (E2EE). This encryption method ensures that only the sender and recipient can access the content of messages or data, blocking intermediaries — including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), hackers, and even governments — from reading encrypted information.

In this article, we’ll explore the meaning of end-to-end encryption, how it works, and its advantages and limitations.

What is end-to-end encryption?

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a method of secure communication where data is encrypted through a process called cryptography. When data is encrypted, it is transformed into a code that is unreadable except by those parties with the necessary keys. When data is encrypted end-to-end, then it is only readable by sender’s device and recipient with the decryption key. This ensures that no third party — including the ISP or the app developer — can access the content in transit.

End-to-end encryption on particular devices and apps

What does end-to-end encrypted mean on Messenger and Instagram?

Facebook Messenger and Instagram have started implementing E2EE for private conversations. When a chat is labeled as end-to-end encrypted, it means that Facebook (Meta) cannot access the messages, preventing potential surveillance or data leaks. However, the feature is not enabled by default on Messenger and Instagram, requiring users to manually activate Secret Conversations or the Vanish Mode feature.

What is end-to-end encrypted data on iPhone?

iPhones use end-to-end encryption for various data types, such as iMessage, FaceTime, and Health data stored in iCloud. This means that only the sender and recipient of a message or call can access its content, ensuring privacy even if Apple itself is requested to access the data.

What is end-to-end encryption on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp implements default end-to-end encryption on all messages, calls, and media. Unlike Messenger or Instagram, WhatsApp does not store decrypted copies of messages on its servers, providing an additional layer of security. However, users should note that WhatsApp backups stored on cloud services may not be E2EE-protected.

What is end-to-end encryption on Signal?

Signal Messenger uses a robust end-to-end encryption for all conversations, making it one of the best private messengers available. WhatsApp also uses the Signal Protocol.

Is Telegram end-to-end encrypted?

Telegram is not end-to-end encrypted by default. To benefit from end-to-end encryption on Telegram, users must open a Secret Chat function. For this reason, Nym does not recommend Telegram for private messaging at present.

How end-to-end encryption works

E2EE relies on cryptographic techniques to secure data. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

1. Key Generation: When two users begin a conversation, each device generates a pair of encryption keys: a public key (shared with others) and a private key (kept secret).
2. Encryption: The sender's device uses the recipient’s public key to encrypt the message.
3. Transmission: The encrypted message travels through servers and networks, but remains unreadable to intermediaries.
4. Decryption: The recipient’s device uses their private key to decrypt the message and access its original content. Because the decryption key remains solely on the recipient’s device, service providers and potential attackers cannot access the communication.

What kind of encryption does E2EE use?

End-to-end encryption refers to the process of sharing encrypted communications. It can thus involve many different types of encryption. Most modern end-to-end encrypted applications use strong encryption protocols, such as: AES (Advanced Encryption Standard): Commonly used for encrypted messaging

• RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman): Used for secure key exchanges.
• Signal Protocol: Open-source protocol used by Signal, WhatsApp, and other privacy-focused apps

Learn more from Nym specialists on what encryption is and how it works.

What is the difference between E2EE and TLS?

While E2EE ensures that only the sender and recipient can access messages, Transport Layer Security (TLS) encrypts data between the user’s device and a server but does not prevent the service provider from accessing the content. For example, when using Gmail, TLS encryption secures messages in transit but Google can still access stored emails. In contrast, E2EE messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp prevent service providers from reading messages even if they store or transmit them.

What is the purpose of end-to-end encryption?

The primary purpose of end-to-end encryption is to protect user data from unauthorized access. Some key benefits include: Preventing mass surveillance: Governments and corporations cannot easily access encrypted data Securing sensitive information: Protects financial transactions, healthcare records, and personal messages Enhancing user privacy: Ensures that only the intended recipient can view private messages Mitigating data breaches: Even if a company’s servers are hacked, encrypted data remains unreadable

What are the limitations of end-to-end encryption?

While E2EE is a powerful privacy tool, it has some limitations: Metadata exposure: While messages are encrypted, service providers can still see who communicates with whom and when. Surveillance systems can also track patterns of communication via metadata. Key compromise risk: If a private encryption key is stolen or leaked, encrypted data can be accessed. Not all apps use E2EE by default: Users may need to manually enable encrypted messaging in apps like Messenger, Instagram, and Telegram. Backups may not be encrypted: Cloud backups of encrypted messages are often stored without encryption, creating a potential vulnerability.

Summary

End-to-end encryption is an essential tool for protecting user privacy and securing communication. While widely used in apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and iMessage, it is important to understand its limitations and ensure additional security measures, such as avoiding unencrypted backups and safeguarding encryption keys.

While end-to-end encryption protects the content of your communications or data, it does not prevent surveillance of metadata which can be used to track what you do online and who you communicate with. This is why Nym highly recommends using a decentralized VPN like NymVPN to protect your metadata as well as the content of your data.

End-to-end encryption FAQs

What is reset end-to-end encrypted data?

Resetting end-to-end encrypted data typically removes stored encryption keys and requires users to reauthenticate devices to restore access.

What does reset end-to-end encrypted data mean?

This means that previously encrypted backups and keys will be deleted, and the user must set up encryption again for protected services.

Can police read end-to-end encrypted messages?

Law enforcement agencies cannot directly read E2EE messages unless they obtain access to a device where messages are decrypted. However, they can still collect metadata or attempt to access backups that are not encrypted. This is why it’s important to use a decentralized VPN to protect metadata from surveillance

Can end-to-end encryption be monitored?

While the content of end-to-end encrypted communications cannot be monitored with properly implemented E2EE, metadata analysis and keylogging attacks may still expose communication patterns. Metadata is highly monitorable. Using a VPN with a decentralized infrastructure is essential to protecting metadata even with the best end-to-end encrypted messengers like Signal.

Is it good to turn on end-to-end encryption?

Yes, enabling E2EE provides better privacy and security, preventing unauthorized access to your communications. Nym recommends using end-to-end encryption whenever possible. Using NymVPN will provide end-to-end encryption for all the traffic coming from your device. How can I remove end-to-end encryption? Most apps do not allow disabling E2EE, but users can delete encrypted conversations or reset encrypted backups if needed. What are end-to-end encryption backdoors? A backdoor is a built-in mechanism allowing third parties — such as governments, service providers, or app developers — to access encrypted data. Many privacy advocates oppose encryption backdoors because they weaken overall security and create vulnerabilities for cybercriminals. Nym’s code base is fully open source ensuring users that there are no backdoors.