Arattai, Positioned as an Indian Alternative to WhatsApp, is Preparing to Introduce End-to-end Encryption for Text Messages

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Sridhar Vembu has issued a stern warning to users of the home-grown messaging app Arattai ahead of a major update that brings full end-to-end encryption for texts. The Zoho founder stressed that without proper backups, users risk losing chats when reinstalling the app. The feature rollout is expected within a few days, with backup support arriving in two to four weeks.

Sridhar Vembu’s Warning

Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu has confirmed that the company is adding end-to-end encryption to Arattai. The 57-year-old entrepreneur said that Zoho is planning to launch a new update for the Arattai app in a couple of weeks.

“We will have an update in a couple of days. The full backup will be launched in two to four weeks,” Vembu said in an interaction with ANI.

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“It will take us some time. So tomorrow or the day after, in a couple of days, we’ll have an update. Then, in another two weeks, we will have an update because one thing about end-to-end encryption is that you have to have a backup. Otherwise, if you reinstall the app, you will lose all your chats,” the statement added.

“We are actually working on the backup. In the cloud version, the backup was stored on the server automatically. Now, in this device’s encrypted version, you have to choose a backup... You have to have the original device key. It’s a technically complex thing to solve. We are going to launch it with the idea that you can use it, but the backup will land in maybe two, three, or four weeks,” he mentioned during the interaction.

Arattai End-to-end Encryption

The WhatsApp rival, Arattai, already had end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls but lacked the feature for text messages. However, the company claims on its website that all its data is stored in India and that all conversations and titles are encrypted in storage.

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Arattai gained a lot of popularity in India a few weeks ago when the app topped the charts on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

However, a major criticism of Arattai has been the lack of end-to-end encryption. It is a key security feature that global rivals like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram have had for years.

Arattai on Data Security

The messaging app claimed that it does not sell user data or monetise it through advertisements. In contrast, WhatsApp has recently begun showing ads to users on their Status. Meta has also confirmed that it will use users’ conversations with Meta AI to personalise ads and other content.

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Sridhar Vembu’s caution to Arattai users isn’t just about an update; it’s about responsibility. As Zoho’s homegrown messaging platform steps into a more secure era, users must adapt to new privacy standards that could redefine India’s approach to data protection in messaging apps.