The Digital Guardian: Safeguarding Your Privacy in the Modern Age"

Ensuring your online security is paramount.

It's likely that you've already bolstered your account protection with multi-factor authentication and activated end-to-end encryption (E2E) on all compatible services.

But what exactly is E2E? In simple terms, it means that any message you send through Google Messages is encrypted the moment it leaves your device and remains encrypted until it's received on the recipient's device.

This guarantees that no intermediary, not even your Internet Service Provider (ISP), can access the message. This level of security is crucial, especially for transmitting sensitive text messages.

Even if your messages don't contain sensitive information, maintaining your security and privacy is a prudent move. Therefore, prioritising E2E for your messages is highly recommended.

Google implemented E2E in its Messages app some time ago. When communicating with someone who has Chat features enabled within the app, your chats will be protected by end-to-end encryption.

 You'll notice a small lock icon at the bottom right of the Send button each time you send a message to such a contact, indicating that the message is encrypted.

But how can you be certain that E2E is functioning correctly?

Thankfully, the developers have included a useful verification feature for this very purpose. However, it requires cooperation from both parties involved.

 You'll need to share these instructions with the person you wish to verify with.

Here's how to verify E2E on Google Messages:

What you'll need:

You'll only need the Google Messages app (with Chat features enabled) and a contact who also has the same app with this feature enabled. Please note that this process won't work unless both parties have Chat features enabled.

1. Open Messages:

Unlock your phone and open the Messages app. Once the app is open, navigate to a conversation with a contact who also has Chat features enabled.

2. Open the details window:

Within that chat, tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, then select "Details."

3. Open Verify encryption:

Inside the Details window, tap "Verify encryption."

4. Verify the encryption:

In the Verify encryption window, you'll see a series of 12 strings of random numbers.

 Your task is to compare these numbers with the ones your chat partner sees. If every number matches, the encryption is valid and verified.

A crucial tip: Avoid taking screenshots or copying/pasting these numbers to send to your recipient. It's best to compare the numbers in person or over the phone. 

You don't want these numbers falling into the wrong hands, as they could be used to create a false account where a malicious actor could impersonate the original recipient.

Remember, it's always better to err on the side of caution.

That's how you can verify the encryption of your Google Messages chats. While the chances of E2E failing are minimal, verifying it is a prudent way to ensure it's operating as intended.