WhatsApp is the largest messaging platform in the world, with over 650 million users currently owning the app globally.

Until today, WhatsApp messages were sent unencrypted, so if any hacker happened upon the private messages, they would be able to read them without any decryption.

Like Us on Facebook

Open Whisper Systems, a group with ties with WhatsApp, has announced the new mobile app update will feature encrypted messages, making it nearly impossible for hackers to read the messages, even if they manage to intercept them.

Encryption on messaging apps has become common and most providers offer some sort of encryption. Hackers who input middleman attacks can easily steal thousands of messages, but with encryption is just becomes a jumbled pile of unreadable text.

Currently, the encryption only extends to one-to-one messages, which means group chats and multimedia messages are not encrypted. Open Whisper Systems has this next on the list of things to do, and it should come in the next few updates.

Android is the first platform to get the encryption update as well, so other platforms (WhatsApp runs on many) still remain unencrypted. Different platforms allow different encryption and code; Open Whisper Systems will add encryption for all platforms in the near future.

WhatsApp is currently growing in markets like China, India and Indonesia, where hundreds of millions of users could soon be using it. Encryption is needed in these markets, especially in China after the targeting of U.S. companies' apps, like Apple's iCloud, earlier this month.

Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion earlier this year, the most expensive deal the social network has ever made. The fruits of this acquisition have not shown yet, but reports say Facebook is looking to integrate its social network more heavily with WhatsApp in the next few months, and push it in Asia, where Facebook Messenger is blocked.

TagsWhatsApp, encryption, mobile hacking, messaging apps