Back in July, Facebook announced they were testing end-to-end encrypted conversations for their Messenger platform, and it is now available to all Messenger users. The new security feature comes in form of an incognito mode called ‘Secret Conversations’, and Facebook has made it optional so that you can choose to either enable or disable the feature for your account. It’s different from the general encryption that WhatsApp uses but is more identical to the incognito chat on Google Allo and Snapchat.
According to a Facebook Spokesperson who spoke to Wired, The “Secret Conversations” opt-in feature allows users to encrypt their messages so that no one can read them except the two people on either end of the conversation—not even Facebook or law enforcement or intelligence agencies.
Facebook also makes it clear that your ordinary conversations on Messenger are already secured, but the secret conversation feature acts as an extra layer of protection, especially if a private or proprietary information is being exchanged in the conversation. Your secret conversations can only be accessed from one device, so if you initiate a secret conversation with your phone, the conversation will not be available across your other devices.
There is also a self-destruct timer that will automatically clear the chat from both participating devices when the time elapses. You can set the timer between 5 seconds and a day. The Secret Conversation mode does not support sharing of GIFs and videos, but you can still share pictures and stickers.
You can sign up for messenger, or download the app here.