Apple Finally Fixes One of Texting’s Biggest Security Problems

About this episode

This episode discusses the introduction of end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging by Apple and Google and its implications for text message security.

Apple and Google are finally bringing end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging to iPhone and Android chats. In this episode, Tom Eston and Kevin Tackett explain why that matters, why insecure SMS is not going away anytime soon, and why Signal is still the better choice for truly sensitive conversations. They also revisit the green bubble versus blue bubble debate, platform trust issues, and what everyday users should understand before assuming every text message is private. Special thanks to Guardsquare for sponsoring this episode! Guardsquare is the leader in mobile application security, with multi-layered protection for your Android and iOS apps. Learn more at Guardsquare.com. ** Links mentioned on the show ** Victory! End-to-End Encrypted RCS Comes to Apple and Android Chats https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/05/victory-end-end-encrypted-rcs-comes-apple-and-android-chats ‘Blue Bubbles’—Apple Says iPhone Messaging Is Still ‘Best’ https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2026/05/26/blue-bubbles-apple-says-iphone-messaging-is-still-best/ End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out today in beta…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tom Eston, Kevin Tackett

Topics covered

• end-to-end encryption
• RCS messaging
• SMS security
• platform trust
• text messaging privacy

Keywords

• RCS
• encryption
• SMS
• Apple
• Google
• Signal
• text messaging
• privacy

Sponsors

Guardsquare

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Apple, Google, Signal

Books & works: Victory! End-to-End Encrypted RCS Comes to Apple and Android Chats, ‘Blue Bubbles’—Apple Says iPhone Messaging Is Still ‘Best’, End-to-end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out today in beta

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