Apple has announced that its iMessage messaging app will receive quantum computer protection with iOS 17.4.
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Security is a never-ending quest, and today Apple announced its latest innovation for protecting iMessage messages. Already running in the iOS 17.4 beta is an innovative cryptographic protocol called PQ3. The new upgrade gives iMessage “the strongest security features of any messaging protocol in the world.” That’s why quantum computer protection for iMessage is important now and for the future.
iMessage has a history of strong security. From its launch in 2011 with end-to-end encryption, to the adoption of Elliptic Curve in 2019, BlastDoor with iOS 14, and recent improvements like Contact Key Verification in late 2023, Apple has been continuously upgrading the security of iMessage.
Apple has unveiled one of the most significant security upgrades to iMessage, with a complete redesign of the system protocol. Apple detailed the new advancement on its Security Research this morning.
See also: Nothing Chats: The App That Brings iMessage to Android
When will quantum computer protection be released in iMessage?
- You can upgrade your iMessage with PQ3 by installing iOS 17.4 beta (along with iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, and watchOS 10.4 beta)
- PQ3 quantum security for iMessage will reach all users with the public releases of iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, and watchOS 10.4
Apple says that “iMessage conversations between devices that support PQ3 are automatically enhanced with the post-quantum encryption protocol.”
The PQ3 protocol “will fully replace the existing protocol in all supported conversations within this year.”
See also: Beeper Mini: Android app that lets you use iMessage
When creating quantum computer protection, Apple had five requirements
- Introduce post-quantum cryptography from the beginning of a conversation, so that all communication is protected from current and future adversaries.
- Mitigate the impact of key compromises by limiting the number of past and future messages that can be decrypted with a single compromised key.
- Use a hybrid design to combine new post-quantum algorithms with current Elliptic Curve algorithms, ensuring that PQ3 can never be less secure than the existing classical protocol.
- Amortize the message size to avoid excessive additional costs from additional security.
- Use formal verification methods to provide strong security assurances for the new protocol.
Source: 9to5mac
