New York State Attorney General Letitia James is warning New Yorkers about the risks of sending unencrypted text messages. She advises that most text messaging services, including SMS, are not secure and can be intercepted by hackers.
To stay safe, James recommends using fully encrypted apps like Signal or WhatsApp instead of traditional texting services. However, she warns that not all encrypted platforms are created equal, and users should be cautious about the metadata they share with these apps.
James’ warning follows similar advice from the FBI and CISA, which have urged Americans to use secure messaging services. She advises users to avoid sending sensitive information via text message and be suspicious of requests for such information.
The lack of end-to-end encryption on newer platforms like RCS has raised concerns among security experts. While RCS has been added to Apple’s iMessage platform, it still lacks a security layer. Users can only securely message with other users on the same platform.
In general, James recommends using WhatsApp as a daily messaging app and Signal for more sensitive or secure messages. Her advice aims to empower New Yorkers with the information they need to protect themselves and their private messages.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2024/12/20/stop-texting-new-york-attorney-general-warns-iphone-android-users