There are many messaging apps available now. Some are more secure, others less so. This article takes a look at a few of the most popular messaging apps and describes which ones keep your data safe and which ones have poor security.
Wire
Wire, launched in 2014, is positioned as a secure messaging app. Wire is based in Switzerland, one of the most favorable countries in the world for developing secure online services and messaging apps. Wire can be used on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and popular browsers.
How secure is Wire?
- Wire also uses end-to-end encryption. Wire’s encryption works transparently in the background and does not require activation because it is always on.
- Wire does not sell analytics or data usage information to third parties.
- Like Signal, Wire is open source, available for users to explore, test, and improve (in this case via GitHub).
- External experts have conducted a public audit of Wire. The published audit results are available online if you don’t have the time or knowledge to review the source code.
- Wire only requires an email address to sign up, not a phone number.
- The app is fully compliant with GDPR requirements.
WhatsApp has 1.5 billion users worldwide and probably needs no introduction. WhatsApp was one of the first messaging apps with end-to-end encryption for secure communication. WhatsApp messenger is owned by Facebook, an association whose privacy of credentials is questionable.
How secure is WhatsApp?
- WhatsApp uses encryption; users are explicitly warned if end-to-end encryption is not applied to a particular chat.
- WhatsApp doesn’t store messages on servers, so if cybercriminals hack into the platform, they won’t be able to decrypt messages.
- In addition, WhatsApp does not have a key to view encrypted messages. By default, messages are stored in WhatsApp in a way that can be backed up to the cloud using iOS or Android.
- WhatsApp implements two-step verification that enhances account security. It is accomplished by setting a PIN required to verify a phone number on any device.
- WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, which is sometimes perceived as a flaw in the privacy system. WhatsApp receives and shares information with other Facebook companies. This means that the data is shared with advertisers who use it for targeted advertising.
Using a secure communication app protects you from intruders trying to steal your data. Different apps have different security features and common features, so choosing a specific app depends on what features are most important to you.
