WhatsApp End to End Encryption
WHATSAPP END TO END
ENCRYPTION
Introduction
Submitted By:
Aashi Jain (150158)
Aastha Gupta (150160)
Sonal Soni (150321)
Encryption
Encryption is the method by which plaintext or any other type of data is converted from a readable form to an encoded version that can only be decoded by another entity if they have access to a decryption key.
Methods
- Signal Protocol of the Open Whisper Systems
- The Identity Key, Signed Pre Key and the One Time Pre Key
The message keys are generated using the chain keys and the root keys using the SHA 256 algorithm.
The HKDF function is used for this pupose.
Generating Message Keys
Steps Required
- Calculating the master_secret
- Generating the root key and the chain key
- Generating the message key from the chain key
- Deleting the One Time Pre key used
Procedure
Session Setup
- To establish the session, the initiator requires the public keys of the recipient.
- Once the chain key is generated, the session is established between the two users.
- The initiator sends an message to the recipient and the recipient decrypts the message with the help of his private keys
- The HMAC-SHA 256 algorithm is used for this purpose
Exchanging Messages
- The AES256 key is used to encrypt the media like audio, video and images.
- These attachments are sent to a blob store and the recipient gets the pointer to that blob from the store.
Transmission of Media
- A client sends a message to a number of recipients simultaneously.
- This is done with the help of the Signature key and the Sender key.
Group Messages
- The SRTP master secret is used for voice calls and video calls.
Voice and Video Calls
Vulnerability
- Government Intervention
- Hacking of te GSM network
Limitations
Disadvantages
- There is no watch on the messages being spread
- Benefit for anti-social people