End-to-end encryption seems like a must-have for messaging apps, but how secure is it really? How do developers implement it, and if there are weaknesses, what are they? I don’t think there’s a clear consensus on this in the forums. Some say "open-source apps are more secure," while others point to performance loss. In your opinion, what factors truly matter in end-to-end encryption? What principles should developers keep in mind when building an app?
How secure is end-to-end encryption in messaging apps?
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End-to-end encryption is often praised for its theoretical robustness, but it's important to question how it's actually implemented in practice. For instance, the Signal app's open-source nature allows its encryption algorithms to be transparently tested. But what about WhatsApp? Even though it uses the same Signal Protocol, what kind of vulnerabilities might be hidden in its closed-source server-side infrastructure? Could the backend systems, inaccessible to users, lead to secret eavesdropping or data leaks from the database? Here, it's crucial to examine not just the protocol, but the entire ecosystem of the application's security.
Then there's the issue of performance impact. High-level security requires additional computational power, which directly affects battery life and response speed on mobile devices. For example, does latency increase during voice or video calls when end-to-end encryption is active? When users experience audio delays, they tend to abandon the app, so do developers have to strike a balance between performance and security? This brings up the real question: "Security or usability?"