People worldwide depend on various messaging applications to maintain easy and convenient communication with others close to them. They need these apps to make connections, establish relationships, do business, and so on.
This technology makes messaging and communication convenient to use regularly by providing new ways to connect. However, it also creates a digital environment where your security and privacy can be breached.
Some governments use private information for their purposes, and so do organizations behind the apps and third parties looking for personal data, such as your messages.
Like Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter, the most popular apps are swarming with billions of users’ private data. Since not all of these apps implement end-to-end encryption, all your conversations may not be adequately protected. With all this in mind, let’s talk about messaging services and chat apps that are leaned on, protecting your privacy and safety.
Signal Private Messenger
Signal is a top-rated free messaging app that ensures encrypted and instant communication. The app is also considered one of the most secure messaging apps around. Signal Private Messenger secures your messaging by having its security-ensuring feature always on.
It protects your privacy and preserves your anonymity by having the default system in place that eliminates any risk of your data getting into the wrong hands. The app is a cross-platform that utilizes encrypted messaging.
The service is fully dedicated to using top encryption to ensure encrypted texting and end-to-end voice calling. The main goal of Signal is to protect the privacy of its users. To increase your security, you can use different features such as choosing the interval of time for deleting messages automatically for each conversation, customizing your chat history, etc.
What makes this app even better is the fact it’s an open-source application. In other words, there’s no secret tracking, no affiliate marketers, or annoying advertisements. More importantly, the company can’t access your conversations since it doesn’t have the decryption keys.
Top features include:
- View-once media
- Group chat
- Open-source protocol
- Automatic message deletion
- No MSS or SMS fees
- Encryption
Wire
Wire is an excellent and completely free messaging solution for businesses, as it’s considered the most secure collaboration platform in the market. The app protects your files, images, and messages by using end-to-end encryption.
Wire keeps the encryption always on, so you won’t have to turn it off or on manually. What sets Wire apart from the rest is using a new encryption key for every message – in case one key gets compromised, your conversation remains secure. The app doesn’t allow third parties to view your usage data, and it doesn’t sell analytics.
Top features include:
- Conferencing
- Group chats
- File sharing
- Ephemeral and timed conversations
Threema
Threema is reserved for those who need extra secure messaging. It’s designed as a private chat messaging application that is fully restrained on metadata. The moment your message is delivered, it’s automatically and permanently deleted to make sure your data never gets misused.
The app also ensures full protection against eavesdropping by managing information locally on your device instead of the common practice of handling the information on a server. All connections are fully encrypted, meaning that no third party can read your messages.
Top features include:
- QR code contact verification
- Password protection and hide option for chats
- Distribution lists
- Anonymous chat
- Poll creation
- Recently became open-source
Telegram
Telegram’s popularity is rapidly growing. The app is considered the perfect messaging tool for ushering in a new era of entirely secure and safe messaging. Group chats and voice calls are encrypted with E2E, although this requires your recipients to have Telegram.
You can choose a particular window of time for deleting all your videos, photos, files, and messages or choose to set your messages for self-destruction. The app also includes advanced features such as secret chats to ensure a more secure messaging experience. Top features include:
- Message self-destruction
- Top speed and global security from distributed servers
- Open API
- Multiple file format support
- Message self-destruct timer
- Unlimited chats and media
- Group chats
Use a VPN to Make Your Messaging More Secure
Even though the apps we mentioned use end-to-end encryption that prevents third parties from accessing your data, the chances are that you’ll still have to use some apps that still gather your data.
It includes various information about you, such as your phone number, location, IP address, the device you use, contacts, and more. The best way to make your data and messaging more secure is to set up a good VPN service. An online VPN will reassure you that your data does not end up in the wrong hands. It conceals your IP address and will not let advertisers, governments, or tech-companies gather insights about your browsing. So, if your messaging app is not necessarily the most private, install a VPN to protect it with end-to-end encryption.
Conclusion
Newer messaging apps are more user-friendly. They are designed to provide increased privacy, anonymity, and security levels and provide top features fully focused on the user’s security. Choose the one with the best features for you and enjoy increased security while sending your messages.
