Gadgetory

over the years facebook Messenger has quietly evolved from a simple private messaging system into a loaded chat platform filled with features you might not even know exist here are five of the best concerned about security of course you are every day we read about some new password breach ransomware attack fortunately messenger offers an extra layer of security for conversations you feel require it secret messages or so they're called are into end encrypted on any or all of your mobile devices at the same time to start such a conversation tap the new message icon in the top right corner then tap secret on iOS or the toggle on Android in secret conversations you can set a timer for messages after the allotted time has elapsed the messages will disappear you can use messenger to send and receive money similar to PayPal or venmo messenger payments require a debit card on both ends of the transaction but there's no cost to use the service which also offers a pin based protection and industry-leading security according to Facebook you can use this to split a check or pay for something you found on Facebook marketplace while in a conversation tap the plus sign select pay or request inter a dollar value and tap either request or pay into your card information if you haven't already then confirm the transaction with your fingerprint or a four-digit pin messenger also offers a couple dozen mini games you can play solo or against a friend though not all of them are in real time most are of the see who can get the highest score variety these range from arcade classics like Galaga and pac-man to newer games like words with friends and cut the rope - if you want to play on your own just have the games tab and choose a title to play against a friend open your conversation with that friend tap the plus icon and then tap games if you've ever tried to do a group chat in a text messaging app you know it can get pretty messy especially if you have a mixture of Android and iOS users messenger makes it easy to chat with a group just create a new message then enter the names of all of the participants once you've sent the first message you can open the settings for the group and change the conversation name and color send files create a permanent group schedule and events and mute the conversation if notifications come over whelming just as messenger exists as a stand-alone mobile app it can also operate on the web without Facebook proper go to messenger comm and sign in you'll get an entire tab devoted to messenger why well for starters you get a full screen interface with much easier management and organization of contacts and messages plus if you have to do a ton of typing it's probably easier to do it from the desktop for more tips and tricks and other how-tos check out cnet.com forward slash how to