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Blue bubbles are best.<\/span><\/p>\n NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Apple\u2019s new iOS 26.5 update delivers \u201ca new milestone for secure cross\u2011platform messaging,\u201d the mobile standards agency GSMA<\/a> said last week. The RCS upgrade that has now come to both iPhone and Android will \u201cimprove privacy and security.\u201d So, why does Apple<\/a> say iMessage and not RCS is still \u201cbest.\u201d<\/p>\n GSMA says<\/a> that for smartphone users, the RCS upgrade benefits are simple. \u201cE2EE RCS messages can\u2019t be read by anyone but the sender and receiver when they\u2019re being sent between Apple and Android devices, even by Apple or Google.\u201d<\/p>\n Forbes<\/span>FBI Warns Microsoft Users\u2014New Attack Gains Access To Accounts<\/span>By Zak Doffman<\/span><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This should provide users “with the highest\u202flevel of privacy and security while messaging.” But there\u2019s a catch. That only happens , GSMA acknowledges, \u201conce enabled by supporting mobile network operators.” Only then will all those users \u201crecognize the newly encrypted conversations via a padlock icon.\u201d<\/p>\n GSMA is \u201cnow encouraging our members to leverage these new capabilities and enable more secure RCS messaging for personal and business users worldwide.\u201d But that won\u2019t happen quickly. It will be patchy. And that\u2019s the issue.<\/p>\n Apple says that in contrast, \u201ciMessage was built with privacy in mind and has always been end-to-end encrypted.\u201d Every message flagged by those a blue bubble is secure. \u201cIt remains the best way to communicate between Apple devices.\u201d<\/p>\n All RCS and MMS\/SMS messages, regardless of encryption, \u201cappear in green text bubbles on your device,\u201d Apple says<\/a>. \u201cLearn how to have blue bubbles instead.\u201d<\/p>\n GSMA describes the RCS encryption upgrade \u201cas a collaborative industry effort involving Apple, Google and the GSMA to strengthen modern mobile messaging standards.\u201d The reality, though, is that Apple never seemed that keen<\/a>.<\/p>\n Forbes<\/span>\u2018What Matters Most\u2019\u2014Google Is Changing Your Gmail Inbox<\/span>By Zak Doffman<\/span><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n