End-to-end encryption in chats
At Rakuten Viber, we're committed to providing you with a secure place to chat.
How do we do this? With the latest end-to-end encryption technology.
IMPORTANT
End-to-end encryption is available from Rakuten Viber version 6.0. To ensure that your chats are secure and that our latest security features are protecting you, please update to the latest version of Rakuten Viber on all your devices.
What is end-to-end encryption?
End-to-end encryption means that only the sender and the intended receiver have access to the contents of a message. Neither Rakuten Viber nor anyone or anything else can read encrypted messages. The encryption keys are stored only on your devices and no one has access to them. To learn more about Rakuten Viber's encryption and privacy, follow this link.
How does end-to-end encryption work?
Each Rakuten Viber account has a unique key. When you send a message using Rakuten Viber, your messages are encrypted (locked) while they are in transit and then decrypted (unlocked) when they reach the intended recipient.
If the message doesn't reach the recipient immediately (for example, because their phone is switched off), it will remain encrypted on Rakuten Viber's servers until it can be delivered. Rakuten Viber can't decrypt any encrypted messages and doesn't hold onto messages once they have been delivered.
Notes
End-to-end encryption is an automatic process introduced in Rakuten Viber version 6.0 on all devices (mobile, desktop, and tablet). For technical information, please review Rakuten Viber's encryption overview.
What types of communication are end-to-end encrypted?
- 1-on-1 chats
- Groups
- 1-on-1 calls (voice and video)
Why aren't all chats end-to-end encrypted?
Some chats aren't end-to-end encrypted for functionality reasons. For example, Channels and Communities display the entire chat history to new members, meaning that the message's intended recipient remains undefined. These messages are protected by encryption-in-transit.
The following communication on Rakuten Viber is not end-to-end encrypted:
- Communities
- Channels
- Chats with bots
- Group calls (voice and video)
- Viber Out (paid) calls
How to check if your chats are encrypted
To see if your chats are encrypted:
Phone
1-on-1 chat
- Open Rakuten Viber on your phone
- Tap on Chats
- Select a 1-on-1 chat
- Tap Info
(Android) or the name of the chat (iOS) at the top of the screen
- Tap Chat info
- Look for the Encryption lock
underneath the contact's display picture
Group chat
- Open Rakuten Viber on your phone
- Tap on Chats
- Select a group
- Tap Info
- Android: tap on Chat info
- Look for the Encryption lock
Desktop
- Open Rakuten Viber on your desktop
- Click on a 1-on-1 or group chat
- Click on Info
- Look for the Encryption lock
You can also add contacts to a Trusted contacts list, allowing you to verify if your connection is secure each time you chat or call them.
Notes
If you don't see the encryption lock, then either you or the person/people you are chatting with are using a Rakuten Viber version older than 6.0. Please update Rakuten Viber on your phone and ask the participants of your chat to update Rakuten Viber as well.