Skip to main content

Microsoft and Signal team up to bring end-to-end encryption to Skype

As an extra layer of security, Skype has released a preview of end-to-end encrypted “Private Conversations.” Currently available for Skype Insiders, users will now have more protection over the content they send within conversations.

Using Open Whisper System’s Signal Protocol, Private Conversations provides end-to-end encryption for Skype audio calls, along with any text messages, images, videos, and audio you send. All content will also be hidden while on the app, so any Preview messages you send won’t show up in your Chats or notifications.

Recommended Videos

Open Whisper Systems has become the industry standard when it comes to encrypted communication. WhatsApp also worked with the organization back in 2016, to develop its own form of end-to-end encryption.

Some might even be familiar with Open Whisper’s own messaging service app called Signal, available for Android and iOS. In addition to its already existing end-to-end encrypted voice-calling and chat service, it beta tested encrypted video calls last year as well.

You can try Skype’s preview by selecting “New Private Conversation” when in the compose menu or from the profile of who you want to send the message to. The recipient will then have to accept your invite, which will specifically state the private conversation will be secured with end-to-end encryption and there will also be a lock icon next to the contact’s name.

But it’s important to note that you can only participate in a private conversation from one device at a time. This means that you can switch the conversation over to another device, but your message history won’t sync and you’ll have to resend the invitation to your contact.

When it comes to ending a Private Conversation, you’ll receive a confirmation window letting you know it has officially ended. You can also delete it the same way you would with a regular chat, and recover it by starting a Private Conversation with the same contact again.

But there are limits when it comes to your capabilities — you’re unable to edit a message or forward any files. From the chat window, you can only send files, audio messages, and emoticons.

For now, Skype is using the preview phase to gain feedback from Skype Insiders before releasing the feature to all of its users. It’s currently available on the latest version of Skype for desktop, along with iOS and Android.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Brenda Stolyar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brenda became obsessed with technology after receiving her first Dell computer from her grandpa in the second grade. While…
What does a 120Hz refresh rate do? Smartphone refresh rates explained
Playing Dianlo Immortal on iPhone 14 Pro

A number of manufacturers have added 90Hz and 120Hz displays to smartphones -- like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra -- and lots of numbers are being thrown around (60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz), but what do they mean? Most importantly, what will they mean for how you'll use your smartphone?

Smartphones are getting more and more powerful, but with the last generation's hardware still holding its own, the jump from generation to generation doesn't seem as great as it once did. Where are manufacturers to go when a new phone doesn't feel more powerful than last year's device? One alternative is to make it feel smoother and more responsive -- and a great way to do that is to increase the refresh rate of its display.

Read more
iOS 18.1 brings two sorely needed email features to the iPhone
Setting primary email address after iOS 18.1 update.

With the introduction of iOS 18.1, Apple has made a crucial change that will make life easier for users eyeing an inbox address change for their account activities. Up till now, if you sought to change the primary email associated with your Apple account, the existing email address had to be deleted first.

Only after deleting the current email address were users able to add a new one for their Apple account. Following the iOS 18.1 update, users can simply change it without any erasure hassle.

Read more
6 features that iOS 18 stole from Android
An iPhone home screen with iOS 18.

Apple took to the stage in an all-singing, all-dancing presentation at WWDC 2024 to unveil iOS 18, the latest software upgrade for the iPhone. Apple Intelligence may be the headline act that's stolen all the coverage, but iOS 18 will also introduce a boatload of smaller changes that can't simply be forgotten. Once you upgrade to iOS 18, you'll get more customization options, icon theming, a game mode, and more.

Really, Apple fans have never had it so good. But if that seems familiar to some of you, well, it's because iOS is becoming more and more like Android. To Android fans like me, the irony is so, so sweet. Apple fans, enjoy your new and awesome features that have been very obviously cribbed from Android.

Read more