Google Messaging could soon change the way you confirm if your contacts are legit. This is thanks to a new QR code feature, which is reportedly rolling out in beta. 9to5Google reports that this Google Messages QR code key verification will allow you to verify that the person you’re communicating with is, in fact, who you intend to. Google first previewed the feature last October, and it now appears to be almost ready for a public release.
Google Messages beta gets QR code key verification
The QR code key verification is reportedly present in the latest Google Messages beta. The feature will be available under the ‘verify encryption’ option when it widely rolls out.
Once you open a conversation in Google Messages and head to the ‘Details’ page by tapping their name in the app bar. You will see the end-to-end encryption card, which has been there for a while. Tapping “verify encryption” previously opened a page with an 80-digit code. Now, there’s a “Security & privacy” sheet to “verify keys for this contact.”
Google explains that ‘verify keys’ will ensure that only you and your contact can read the RCS messages you send each other. The old 80-digit option is still available if you tap “Compare verification codes.”
The QR code feature could be available for Android 9+ devices
To verify keys, you can scan the QR code on your contact’s device, and then ask them to scan the QR code on yours. You can check the verification status for the keys by going to “Connected apps” in the Contacts app. Tapping “Your QR code” opens the “verification for Google Messages.” It’s reported that the Google Contacts app integration is not live yet.
The sheet has its own “Scan Contact’s QR code” option. This opens the Android System Key verification application, which is already present on your device. The QR code key verification feature will be made available at some point this year for Android 9+ devices. This unified public key verification could also be available for third-party apps.
