The FBI has warned of a massive Chinese hacking operation targeting American telecommunications companies, prompting the need for secure communication methods. To hide communications from Beijing’s spies, encryption is a recommended technology that scrambles messages and requires a “key” to decipher.
Telecommunications companies store call and SMS records temporarily, but audio data is not recorded, making it easier for hackers to access phone records and some stored text messages. However, encrypted messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp offer end-to-end encryption, where every user holds the unique code to unscramble a message.
Signal’s encryption is considered one of the best commercially available, while other platforms like Google Messages allow users to make encrypted phone calls through their internet-connected calling apps. Apple’s FaceTime also offers encryption for internet-connected calls.
Despite these options, some cryptographers question the security of Telegram, citing concerns over its code being non-public and not encrypting conversations by default. The FBI has been investigating the Salt Typhoon operation since late spring, which is believed to have gained significant access to phone records and text messages, including those from high-profile individuals. China denies the accusations, but experts emphasize the importance of using encryption to protect communications from cyber threats.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/sure-texts-calls-encrypted-fbis-012249241.html