Microsoft today announced the preview of end-to-end encrypted Private Conversations on Skype. When you chat with someone using this new Private Conversations feature, the whole conversation will be end-to-end encrypted. This encryption process will be applicable to includes audio calls, text messages, images, audio, and videos. Microsoft is using the industry standard Signal Protocol by Open Whisper Systems. The content of the Private Conversations will be hidden in both the chat list and notifications.
Here’s how it works:
- Users can select “New Private Conversation” from the compose menu or from the recipient’s profile.
- Once an user starts a new Private Conversation, the recipient will receive an invite.
- After the recipient accepts the invite, all calls and messages in that conversation will be encrypted end-to-end until users choose to end it.
- Users can participate in only one private conversation from a single device at a time. Users can switch the conversation to other devices, but the messages they send and receive will be tied to the device they’re using at the time.
This new feature is now available for Skype Insiders (Skype version 8.13.76.8 for iOS, Android, Linux, Mac, and Windows Desktop). Skype UWP app will be updated in the future to support this new feature.