If you’re looking for security while messaging on your Windows Phone, look no further than Threema, a messaging application with end-to-end encryption that is sure to make things difficult for anyone trying to snoop on your messaging content. The app comes courtesy of Switzerland-based Threema GmbH and has already amassed nearly a million downloads on Google Play alone.
The company says in the FAQ (via) on its website that a Windows Phone version is “currently under development.” Unfortunately, no release date has been given and the company has no plans to expand its offering to other operating systems beyond iOS, Android, and Windows Phone at this time, though it does point out that desktop versions for Windows and Mac OSX are in the “long term plan.”
Your secret keys never leave your device, meaning your messages can’t be decrypted
Once you’ve downloaded it on iOS or Android, and once it’s available for Windows Phone, Threema is very simple to set up. Simply link your e-mail address and/or mobile phone number so other people can find you to synchronize your contacts, after which you’ll be able to start exchanging secure messages. Your secret keys never leave your device, meaning even Threema won’t be able to decrypt your messages, whether they’re asked to do so or not.
color levels help keep your security in the green
There are two color levels used when verifying your contacts:
- Orange – When you synchronize your contacts, the public keys will be retrieved from the server, which has verified that they belong to the respective person via SMS or e-mail validation. This is the “orange” verification level.
- Green – Recommended verification option. Threema lets you easily verify by scanning a QR code (which contains the ID and public key) directly from the mobile phone of another user. Once scanned, the verification level will change to “green”.
Even though there are a lot of options for maintaining security while messaging, it’s always good to see a few more enter the market, which ultimately leads to competition, more innovation, and even better security. Threema can be downloaded for via Google Play or iTunes. The app will set you back $1.99 USD, but when it comes to security, what’s money?