FBI advises Android, iOS users to avoid text messages

Washington: The US agency Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has advised iPhone and Android users to avoid sending messages from their devices, keeping in mind cybersecurity concerns.

According to a report by the US magazine Forbes, the FBI has issued a warning to Americans, realizing the cyber concerns.

The advisory issued by the FBI stated that users should use encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, or Facebook Messenger instead of traditional texting, especially when texting between different platforms such as iPhone to Android.

The FBI added that Android-to-Android or iPhone-to-iPhone messaging is secure, but texting between these two devices is not secure. Such messages lack complete end-to-end encryption and become easy targets for hackers.

According to the report, this FBI warning comes after growing concerns about attacks by hackers called Salt Typhoon.

In the advisory, the FBI warned that encryption should be ‘managed responsibly,’ allowing companies like Apple, Google, and Meta to provide access to user data under court orders.

The FBI director highlighted the challenges of balancing privacy and public safety, citing the use of secret platforms by terrorists and hackers.

He advised users to remain vigilant and prioritize encrypted messaging as a means of secure messaging.