DFW Computer Integration

Most of us probably don’t even realize we have a problem with our phone messaging.

RCS Messaging (Rich Communications Services) adds functionality to cross platform messaging.

• Send messages over mobile data and Wi-Fi 
• Share files and high-resolution photos 
• See when someone is typing 
• Receive read receipts, which show when someone has read or received your message

This is convenient, but it comes with some hazards.

Primarily the fact that it is NOT end-to-end encrypted between platforms. So if you have an iPhone and are texting someone with an Android device, the communications are not secure. Third parties can read your messages. This make you susceptible to being hacked.

Apple’s latest iOS18 added RCS to their chat functionality.

In a joint statement last month from the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, officials said foreign hackers are tapping into people’s data in a “significant cyber espionage campaign.”

Never share credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or other sensitive personal or financial data via text messages.

Of course you can disable RCS and solve that problem quickly. But you lose the functionality of RCS.

You can switch to another messaging app without these issues like WhatsApp or Signal. As a computer forensics analyst, I use Signal for encrypted communications with clients on a daily basis. WhatsApp is a popular tool, but it is part of the META (Facebook and Instagram family) network. This comes with its own concerns.

Disabling RCS on Android:

1. Open the Google Messages app on your device.
2. Tap on the three-dot icon at the top right corner of the screen and select ‘Settings.’
3. Navigate to ‘Chat features’ and tap chat features.
4. In the chat features section, locate the enable / disable RCS messaging.
5. Toggle the switch to ‘Off’.
6. Confirm your choice if prompted, and RCS will be turned off.

Disable RCS on an iPhone: 

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Messages
3. Select RCS Messaging
4. Toggle the feature off