The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the US has warned both iPhone and Android users against unencrypted text messages, according to media reports.

In a statement, the FBI has advised them to refrain from sending unencrypted text messages due to escalating cybersecurity concerns. The alert coincides with proposed new regulations and an intensified effort by US authorities to promote more secure communication methods.

While Apple’s recent embrace of Rich Communication Services appeared to herald a new chapter for secure messaging, a new complication has arisen. Messages exchanged between Android and iPhone users are not fully encrypted, although communications between devices of the same platform remain secure.

This comes as fears grow over cyberattacks, especially from hackers targeting US networks, with reports suggesting the scale of such attacks is more significant than previously believed.

In light of such threats, the FBI and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have encouraged Americans to utilise encrypted messaging services and secure phone calls whenever possible.

Recent attacks attributed to the Salt Typhoon have raised concerns about vulnerabilities in the US’ critical communication infrastructure. The absence of end-to-end encryption poses a risk of intercepted communications, prompting major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Meta to push for stronger encrypted messaging solutions.

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A senior official from the FBI told the media, “In investigations of this scale and significance, the facts will develop over time.”

The ongoing inquiry into the foreign country targeting of commercial telecom infrastructure has uncovered a widespread and significant cyber espionage campaign.

The official claimed that hackers affiliated with China have compromised the networks of several telecom companies to facilitate various cyber operations. The FBI’s investigation into such breaches began in late spring and early summer of this year.