In a digital world where privacy has become the ultimate luxury, Zoho’s Arattai is quietly transforming how India sees communication apps.
Recently, Sridhar Vembu, co-founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, announced a major security upgrade for Arattai — end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for chats, a feature that now puts Arattai on par with messaging giants like WhatsApp and Signal.
This announcement — first reported by LiveMint — signals more than just a technical update. It marks a powerful moment in Indian tech: a homegrown app reaching global security standards while staying true to its ethical and independent roots.
End-to-End Encryption: A Giant Leap for Arattai’s Security
For years, end-to-end encryption has been the gold standard in digital communication security. It ensures that only the sender and receiver can read the messages — not even the platform itself.
WhatsApp and Signal popularized this concept, but Zoho’s Arattai has now joined that league, offering end-to-end encryption for calls and soon for chats, as confirmed by Vembu himself.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sridhar Vembu wrote that Arattai’s encryption upgrade will make chat messages “completely private and inaccessible to anyone except the communicating parties.”
He also mentioned Zoho’s plan to turn off cloud storage for Arattai messages by default, meaning messages will remain stored only on user devices, unless the user explicitly enables backup.
This step — rare even among global tech giants — reinforces Zoho’s unwavering belief in user data ownership and privacy-first design.
Zoho’s Promise: “We Don’t Own Your Data — You Do.”
At the heart of every Zoho product lies one guiding principle:
“We don’t own your data — you do.”
While most major tech companies rely on ads, analytics, and monetized user data to drive growth, Zoho has taken the opposite route — growing organically and independently for over 28 years without external investors or ad-driven revenue.
Arattai is an extension of this philosophy. It’s an Indian-made, privacy-centric alternative to messaging apps that often blur the line between convenience and surveillance.
Zoho’s stance is clear:
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✅ No ads.
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✅ No data selling.
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✅ No forced AI integrations.
This latest encryption upgrade isn’t just a feature — it’s a reaffirmation of Zoho’s values in a time when “data privacy” has become one of the most abused phrases in tech marketing.
What Makes Arattai Different from WhatsApp and Others
While Arattai and WhatsApp now share end-to-end encryption, their philosophies couldn’t be more different. Here’s how Arattai stands apart:
1. Indian-Made, Indian-Controlled
Arattai is fully developed in India by Zoho — a company headquartered in Chennai, with offices in Tenkasi and Renigunta. All development, hosting, and data handling are managed within strict compliance and transparency frameworks.
In contrast, WhatsApp’s infrastructure and data oversight fall under Meta’s global ecosystem, subject to international regulations and controversies around data use.
2. No Cloud Storage by Default
Vembu confirmed that Arattai will disable automatic cloud storage for chats once end-to-end encryption is fully deployed.
This means messages will stay on your device unless you explicitly back them up — minimizing exposure to hacks, leaks, or unauthorized access.
WhatsApp, by comparison, stores encrypted backups on third-party cloud services (Google Drive, iCloud), which still pose potential vulnerabilities.
3. Built-In Privacy Features
Beyond messaging, Arattai integrates several thoughtful features:
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Pocket: A private, personal space within the app to save messages, media, and notes securely.
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Meetings: Schedule or join virtual meetings directly from the app.
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No AI Push: Unlike WhatsApp’s integration with Meta AI, Arattai keeps communication pure — no algorithmic interference, no data profiling.
4. Ethical Engineering from Zoho’s Ecosystem
Arattai isn’t a standalone experiment. It’s part of Zoho’s vast privacy-first ecosystem that includes:
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Ulaa Browser — a privacy browser that blocks trackers and ads.
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Zoho Mail — an ad-free business email platform.
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Zoho Vault — a secure password manager.
Together, these tools represent Zoho’s vision of digital sovereignty, empowering users to communicate, work, and manage data without compromising privacy.
“Catching Up with WhatsApp” — The Security Perspective
As LiveMint reported, Sridhar Vembu said Arattai is “finally catching up with WhatsApp” thanks to this crucial E2EE upgrade.
But in reality, Arattai isn’t just catching up — it’s differentiating itself.
Where WhatsApp’s encryption depends on Meta’s servers and its business model still thrives on behavioral insights, Arattai’s independence allows it to offer privacy without trade-offs.
By keeping encryption keys entirely on user devices and not monetizing through ads, Arattai aligns perfectly with Zoho’s long-standing ethics: technology should empower users, not exploit them.
Transparency in Data Hosting and Control
Arattai’s upcoming encryption update has raised questions like —
Where is Zoho’s data hosted?
Who controls it?
Is it safe under Indian regulations?
Here’s the clear answer:
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Development: 100% done in India (primarily in Tamil Nadu).
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Data Hosting: Managed across Zoho’s secure data centers in India and global regions depending on user geography.
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Control: 100% Zoho-owned — with no third-party data brokers, no advertising networks, and no investor influence.
This transparent approach builds user confidence and sets Zoho apart as one of the few global SaaS firms fully committed to data ethics.
Why This Matters for India’s Tech Future
The rise of Arattai isn’t just about another app — it’s about India reclaiming control over its digital destiny.
In a landscape dominated by foreign apps that harvest data under complex global policies, Arattai proves that India can build world-class technology without compromising integrity.
It also reflects Zoho’s broader mission:
“Made in India. Made for the World.”
By building tools like Arattai and Ulaa from Indian soil and exporting them globally, Zoho demonstrates that ethical innovation and profitability can co-exist.
It’s a story of self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) and trustworthy technology — values deeply resonant with Indian consumers and enterprises today.
The Road Ahead for Arattai
As Arattai rolls out end-to-end chat encryption, users can expect:
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Enhanced privacy and message security.
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Optional encrypted backups for those who need cloud sync.
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Continued feature innovation without sacrificing transparency.
Zoho is also expected to expand multi-device support, meeting integrations, and privacy dashboards, further strengthening Arattai’s position as India’s safest messaging app.
With Sridhar Vembu personally leading this privacy push, Arattai’s evolution is not just technical — it’s philosophical. It challenges global giants to rethink how communication tools respect user rights.
Conclusion: Arattai’s Promise for a Private Digital India
Arattai’s move toward full end-to-end encryption is more than a feature update — it’s a statement.
It proves that a privacy-first, ad-free, Indian-made app can match global competitors in performance while staying independent and ethical.
As Zoho continues to champion the principle of “user data belongs to the user,” Arattai becomes a symbol of what India’s tech ecosystem can achieve — innovation rooted in integrity.
So the next time you open Arattai to chat, remember — it’s not just another messenger.
It’s India’s voice for digital freedom.