iMessage Contact Key Verification: New Feature Arrives in iOS 16.6 Beta 4

Today, the Cupertino-based brand is giving one step closer to stability with the latest iOS 16.6 Beta 4. The update is rolling out for developers (via 9to5Mac) with more fixes over the third beta and the iMessage Contact Key Verification is now almost ready for release.

Developers participating in the iOS/iPadOS beta program should ensure they install the latest beta for iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6. To those unaware, iOS 16.6 has been in developer beta form since May. With the release of the fourth beta, Apple should now be inching closer to a stable release.

iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 are starting points for iMessage Contact Key Verification. It comes to allow iOS/iPadOS owners to verify that they are in chat with people they intend to message rather than a malicious entity that has intercepted the message. The feature's goal is to improve the use for users who have been seeing "extraordinary digital threats". Moreover, the Cupertino brand intends the new feature to be utilized by journalists, government officials, and individuals facing potential threats.

The Feature is an enhancement to existing end-to-end encryption in iMessage itself. The feature allows a user to verify they are messaging only with the intended recipient, without interference from outside forces. For added security, the user can verify with each other by comparing a Contact Verification Code in Person, Over FaceTime, or via other secured communications.

Users who enable iMessage Contact Key Verification will receive automatic alerts if a state-sponsored attacker were to somehow succeed in breaching cloud servers.

According to MacRumors, Apple plans iMessage Contact Key Verification to reach iPhones and other devices in 2023. It is one of the last big features we will see in iOS 16.

Keep in mind that the update is Work-In-Progress. Apple could change some of the features or opt not to include them in the final update. For now, users in the stable branch will be enjoying iOS 16.5 and all the features that have been added.