End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is the process of encrypting data between devices so that only the sender and the receiver can view the message’s contents. This cybersecurity method encrypts messages before they’re sent and then decrypts them after they are successfully delivered. As a result, E2EE secures messages — and the data contained within them — that might have been vulnerable in the past and allows only the two communicating parties to access and read the message.

What does E2EE protect the user from, and why is it important?

Suppose you imagine the flow of a message from one person to the next as a conversation. In that case, E2EE protects these communications from eavesdroppers or bad actors intentionally looking to access private data in these messages. It also prevents cybercriminals from getting their hands on the cryptographic keys required to decode the encrypted data.

One significant benefit of E2EE is that it protects against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. This a specific type of cyberattack where the perpetrator inserts himself in between two parties but secretly accesses, relays, and even alters their communications. They may think they are in direct contact with each other but could fall victim to the man in the middle’s infiltration.

What doesn’t E2EE protect us from?

Despite its widespread use and many strengths, E2EE doesn’t always represent an end-all and be-all security approach. The following are a few different examples where it may not prevent a compromise.

1. Keystroke loggers: Let’s face it: If the bad guys have a key-logging application installed on your system, they may be able to log reverse-engineer passwords and cryptographic keys in plain text and, ultimately, gain access to confidential data in the transmission.
2. Metadata: It’s important to note that E2EE does a great job safeguarding all of the information but does not conceal the metadata associated with a message. This is typically information such as the names of the parties and the time and date the message was sent. If this information is especially appealing, cybercriminals may become even more determined to attack either of the two parties or their companies.
3. Decoded, stored data: It may be obvious, but it’s still worth saying. Once information is decrypted and ultimately stored, it becomes the same as any other data — susceptible to the same threat vectors, vulnerabilities, and attacks. (More evidence that most companies need the combination of the right policies and cybersecurity solutions to maximize their protection.)
4. Compromised endpoints: If either party’s endpoints become compromised, a bad actor may be able to see a message before it can be encrypted or after it is decrypted. Unfortunately, this is how many MITM attacks happen — attackers gain access to the keys before the parties realize it and use them to their full advantage.

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