Apple and Google roll out end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging

Apple has officially released iOS 26.5, introducing support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to Rich Communication Services (RCS) in beta. This move is part of a cross-industry effort to replace traditional SMS with a more secure alternative, according to a recent report by The Hacker News.

The E2EE RCS messaging feature is now available to iPhone users running iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and Android users on the latest Google Messages version. This feature is enabled by default for all new and existing conversations on both platforms. RCS offers enhanced messaging capabilities over traditional SMS, including high-resolution photo and video sharing, typing indicators, and read receipts, all built on the RCS Universal Profile specification. A lock icon will appear in chats to indicate that a conversation is end-to-end encrypted, meaning messages cannot be read during transit.

This rollout follows Apple's earlier testing of E2EE for RCS and the GSM Association's (GSMA) confirmation of support for the protocol. The update also includes fixes for over 50 vulnerabilities in iOS and iPadOS, addressing potential security risks.

Source: The Hacker News