How to turn on iMessage Contact Key Verification in iOS 17 on iPhone

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Apple provides a fantastic collection of privacy tools. iMessage Contact Key Verification is a new feature that Apple included to iOS 17.2 to improve the security provided by traditional end-to-end encryption. If you’re interested in using this feature, find out what it is, how to use it, and how to enable iMessage Contact Key Verification on your iPhone.

What is iMessage Contact Key Verification?

The most recent privacy feature from Apple, iMessage Contact Key Verification, allows users to confirm that the person they are speaking with is who they say they are and isn’t an attacker posing as them. This feature comes after Advanced Data Protection.

For users who are more vulnerable to sophisticated assaults that exploit security back doors, such as journalists, human rights advocates, and government officials, this feature adds an extra degree of protection.

iMessage-Contact-Key-Verification

According to Apple’s release notice for iOS 17.2 Beta, Contact Key Verification automatically determines whether the hardware keys match the keys registered in a verifiable database by using Key Transparency.

  • If you wish to use this feature, you must update all devices signed into your iCloud account to iOS 17.2 Beta, macOS 14.2 Beta, or watchOS 10.2 Beta.
  • If a user has Contact Key Verification enabled, and the keys don t match, they ll be notified about such discrepancies in the Messages conversation and Apple ID Settings.
  • For added security, users with iMessage Contact Key Verification enabled on their devices can compare a Contact Verification Code in person, via FaceTime, or another secure call. They can also choose to create or edit their contacts and store public keys to turn on Contact Key verification.
  • If you own any unsupported devices, you can still keep using them, but you ll need to sign out of iMessage on these devices before enabling the feature.

How to enable iMessage Contact Key Verification on iPhone

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Apple ID banner with your name.
  3. Scroll down and tap Contact Key Verification.

    go-to-apple-id-banner-contect-key-verification

  4. Tap Continue Toggle on Verification in iMessage.

    tap-continue-and-toggle-on-verification-in-imessage

FAQs
How can I manually verify if my iMessages are secure?

You can provide the recipient of your iMessages with a public verification code so they can verify whether your messages are secure. They can identify that they are speaking with you if the code they receive matches the code they see in iMessage. Go to the SettingsApple ID banner to locate your verification code.Contact Verification of KeysDisplay the Code of Public Verification.

Is it safe to share my Public Verification Code?

Your Public Verification Code doesn’t include any private information, therefore sharing it is safe. To be safe, though, you should only give out your Verification Code in person or over a secure audio or FaceTime connection.

How is CKV better than traditional end-to-end encryption?

By confirming the identity of the person you are communicating with, Contact Key Verification provides an extra degree of protection that makes it superior to conventional end-to-end encryption. This lessens the likelihood that someone will pose as someone you know and listen in on your private discussions.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, iPhone owners should find it simple to guarantee that their discussions remain private without fear of government surveillance, hackers, or other nefarious actors listening in thanks to the addition of Contact Key Verification for iMessage in iOS 17.2.

How do you feel about this new feature? On your smartphone, will you be using it? Tell us in the space provided for comments below.

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