What is the best secure messaging app? Messaging apps have become essential in our daily lives, making the choice of a secure messaging app crucial rather than just a luxury. A secure messaging app protects the privacy of your conversations, whether you're discussing personal matters or just engaging in casual chit-chat. The last thing you want is for someone to see your messages. If you're not using an encrypted messaging app, know that your messages are not safe. So, keep reading to find out what the best secure messaging app is!
What is the best secure messaging app?
While encryption and privacy play a vital role in choosing the most secure messaging apps, it's also essential to use the apps that our friends are using. Therefore, WhatsApp and Facebook remain the most popular messaging apps worldwide, despite Facebook's questionable privacy policies.
How to choose the best secure messaging apps for your privacy?
Choose an app that uses end-to-end encryption and open-source code and does not store your data. Many messaging apps available in the market are not as secure as they claim.
In fact, even the most popular messaging apps in the world are not immune to fraud. To make your choice easier, we have compiled a list of apps that offer end-to-end encryption. Most importantly, this means that even the service provider cannot see your messages, nor can abusive employers or hackers. We have reviewed a range of encrypted messaging apps and highlighted their pros and cons, so keep reading to learn more about these apps.
1. Viber
+ End-to-end encryption.
+ Self-destructing messages.
- Collects data about users and their contacts.
- Tracks users' activity on social media.
Viber, one of WhatsApp's strongest competitors, was initially designed for making online calls but quickly evolved into a comprehensive chat app.
You can use it to send voice messages, text messages, photos, and videos to other users and groups. All chats, including group chats, are fully encrypted. You can use Viber on mobile devices and most desktop operating systems. However, one of Viber's most attractive features is self-destructing messages.
On the downside, the company is known for collecting names and phone numbers of its individual users as well as people in users' contact lists, even if those people do not use Viber. Viber goes as far as tracking its users' activity on social networks, using all the metadata it can gather, making the use of Viber services somewhat risky.
2. WhatsApp
+ Uses Signal encryption.
+ Most of your friends likely use it.
+ User-friendly with additional features.
- Owned by Facebook.
- Has experienced significant breaches.
With over a billion users, WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps. It's easy to use and offers features like location sharing, file sharing, animated images, and even desktop support.
It also employs a strong encryption protocol developed for Signal by Open Whisper Systems, featuring perfect forward secrecy (PFS). This means that if someone manages to decrypt and hack your messages, they will only be able to see the last message you sent.
On the other hand, WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, raising significant security concerns. User data collection is at the heart of the social media giant, which has failed to keep user data secure on multiple occasions. Can we really trust Facebook, even with secure encryption?
On May 14, 2019, hackers discovered a serious vulnerability in WhatsApp and used it to install surveillance malware on a limited number of phones. This spyware was introduced through WhatsApp voice calls (the targeted person did not need to answer the call) and gave hackers access to victims' text messages, emails, WhatsApp messages, contact details, call logs, location, microphone, and camera. The vulnerability has now been patched.
3. Facebook Messenger
+ Most of your friends use it.
+ You can use it even if you deactivate your Facebook account.
- Encryption is not default.
- Does not encrypt past conversations.
- Tracks your activity.
Billions of people use Facebook and its messaging services, but few know that the company's app offers end-to-end encryption, as Facebook has done a great job of hiding this feature. However, this does not change the fact that the social media giant collects data about you, such as who you message or how often you use the app, making it hard to trust!
4. iMessage
+ Encryption is enabled by default.
- Collects user information based on behavior.
- Fails to encrypt other sensitive data like mobile numbers or data stored in the cloud.
There is no doubt that Apple products have a good reputation when it comes to cybersecurity. The alternative used by iPhone owners for texting, iMessage, features default end-to-end encryption. However, it still has many vulnerabilities.
The app also fails to encrypt your identifying data and any data synced with iCloud. If anyone hacks your cloud, they will have access to your device.
5. Telegram
+ Offers disappearing messages and other additional features.
+ User-friendly interface.
- Although the app is open-source, its servers are not.
- Encryption is not default.
- Uses a proprietary encryption protocol.
Over 100 million people use Telegram. While the platform is easy to use and offers many additional features, it is not obligated to provide any information to anyone. However, Telegram is not as secure as it wants us to believe.
First, it seems strange that this supposedly secure app does not have default encryption. Many people using Telegram are unaware of this issue, which contradicts the purpose of the app.
The Telegram encryption protocol is not great; it was developed by an internal team with little experience in encryption. Telegram's servers are not open-source, so the code has not been audited by third parties, and the company does not provide transparency reports.
6. Silence
+ A secure solution for SMS/MMS messaging.
+ Free for everyone.
+ No screenshots allowed.
+ No internet connection required.
- For Android devices only.
- No direct support.
- Limited user base.
Silence is a secure SMS/MMS app that you can use even if you are not connected to the internet. You can send messages to anyone; however, end-to-end encryption is only available when sending text messages to other Silence app users, and it is also available only on Android devices.
All messages stored on your phone are encrypted, and the stealth keyboard does not remember your typing history. The security screen option prevents users from taking screenshots. In terms of security, Silence is one of the most secure messaging apps, but if you are looking for more advanced features like video calls, you will need to look elsewhere.
7. Threema
+ Does not store data or log IP addresses.
+ Retains minimal metadata.
+ Messages and contacts are stored on the user's device rather than on servers.
+ You do not need to provide an email or phone number to register.
- Limited user base.
- No free version.
Threema is a paid encrypted messaging app that offers a high level of anonymity. It provides private text and voice messages, voice and video calls, group polls, and file sharing. You don't even have to provide your email or phone number to register.
Instead, a randomly generated ID is assigned, and you can verify your contacts through a QR code.
Your messages are deleted from Threema's servers as soon as they are delivered, leaving no trace. Metadata is not stored, except for the smallest amount required to operate the app. Overall, Threema provides extremely secure services and sends its software for external audits to confirm this, making it one of the most secure messaging apps ever. One downside, perhaps temporary, is the limited number of users.
Conclusion
What is the best secure messaging app? We have tried to answer this question
