Zoho is doubling down on privacy for its homegrown messaging app Aratai. The platform, which was launched as India’s answer to WhatsApp, is now getting ready for a major makeover, and it’s all about security. Co-founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu has announced that the company is introducing mandatory end-to-end encryption across its entire system, calling it one of Aratai’s biggest updates to date.

The new encryption model will ensure that even Zoho itself cannot access users’ messages, making conversations completely private. According to Vembu, the change was not as simple as flipping a switch, as it required a “substantial redesign” of the app’s internal architecture.

Aratai’s encryption will launch soon

In a post on X, Vembu revealed that Aratai’s encryption rollout will start with one-to-one chats and expand to group conversations shortly thereafter. The company has already started testing the update internally on a large scale. “Approximately 6,000 Zoho employees are currently testing the updated version,” he said, noting that this early round of testing helped engineers uncover and fix several issues. A new build is now going through a new cycle of tests to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Vembu confirmed, “If everything goes well, we plan to deploy in a few days. It will be a forced upgrade on everything because it is a big change.” He suggested that users will not be able to skip the update once it goes live.

Given the magnitude of the overhaul, Zoho is playing it safe. The company says the encryption update changes Aratai’s basic data-handling system, meaning every user will have to migrate to the new version for the app to function properly.

For now, the latest version of Aratai is already available for download on the App Store, but the encryption switch has not been activated yet. “This feature will remain inactive until testing is completed and Zoho makes it operational,” Vembu said.

The move underscores Zoho’s long-term commitment to data privacy, a stance that has helped the company stand apart from tech giants that rely heavily on advertising. By introducing mandatory end-to-end encryption, Aratai aims to provide users with a messaging experience where security is not optional but built into the system.

new updates of aratai

Unlike many global platforms, Zoho runs all of its operations, from data centers to engineering, within India, a point Vembu often highlights as central to the company’s “sovereign tech” philosophy. With this update, Aratai joins the ranks of fully encrypted messengers like Signal and Telegram’s secret chat mode, but with a uniquely Indian identity.

The new design also brings some additional features. The new build reportedly offers faster performance, intuitive navigation, and an overall refined interface, which is a bonus for users eagerly awaiting the security upgrade.

Vembu, who is known for his hands-on involvement with Zoho’s engineering teams, thanked users for their patience as the company worked to get the rollout right. He described the process as both complex and necessary for the long-term development of Arattai.

“This is a huge change,” he stressed, but it is intended to make Aratai more trustworthy in a market increasingly focused on privacy and data security.

As the final testing phase ends, Aratai is set to emerge stronger and more secure not only as a homegrown alternative to global chat apps but also as a statement of Zoho’s intent. In an era when privacy often seems optional, the latest update from Sridhar Vembu ensures that it is no longer negotiable.