![]() While these two terms are related, they are different things. "You already talked about security, isn't privacy the same thing?" That's a good question. "Hold on just a second, you dashingly handsome rogue," I hear you cry. If message security is your biggest concern, you can just stop reading right now. WhatsApp and Telegram both have different, but equally complicated problems in this category. Its encryption system is designed so that not even Signal can read your messages, and it uses well-accepted technology to do it. This is a known issue, and WhatsApp suggests deactivating iCloud backup (Opens in a new window) for WhatsApp. Law enforcement can obtain a surprising amount of information on WhatsApp users, and if those users are backing up WhatsApp to iCloud, the feds can simply grab your unencrypted messages. The feds say that they can't get the contents of messages from Signal and Telegram, which is great. There are other methods law enforcement has for going after your messages, and a recently revealed FBI document (Opens in a new window) explains exactly how well Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, and others stand up to these methods. Setting up encrypted backups for WhatsApp is important, but the company recommends disabling iCloud backups on iOS and iPadOS. Although Telegram's system has been positively evaluated, it remains controversial (Opens in a new window). ![]() With encryption, it's considered foolhardy and perhaps dangerous to "roll your own" instead of building on trusted standards. One more note about Telegram's encryption: it uses its own, custom encryption system. However, I prefer encryption systems that simply do not allow for those possibilities. Telegram says it won't do this, and the company's independent streak backs that up. That means the company could, potentially, read your messages, or be compelled to hand over those keys by law enforcement. All other chats-normal one-to-one, group, and all Telegram's other permutations-are still encrypted but done in such a way that Telegram holds the keys. With that app, only optional Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted. There's a much larger caveat to Telegram's E2EE implementation. Business accounts are clearly marked, and there's certainly not the same expectation of privacy when talking to Al's Discount Empanada Barn instead of your spouse. If you message a business account, your message contents are not encrypted. There's a caveat to WhatsApp's E2EE implementation, however. Both also use the Signal Protocol (Opens in a new window), which has been evaluated and implemented by Google, Meta (read: Facebook), and others. Both Signal and WhatsApp use E2EE by default for all person-to-person and group chats, as well as voice and video. The best services do this with a process called end-to-end encryption (E2EE), where the messages are encrypted in such a way that only the proper recipients-not the messaging company and not anyone spying on your activity-can see the message's contents.īelow we detail how each of the three main secure messaging services-Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp-fare in our testing for security, privacy, ease of use, social features, and video and voice chat so that you can pick the one that's right for you.īuying Guide: The Best Secure Messaging Apps for 2023Īll three of the products in this roundup use E2EE, but they're not all implemented the same way, which creates real differences between the services. The main security concern with messaging services is ensuring that only the intended recipients can read your messages. Unfortunately, not all chat services make security their top priority. Mobile chat services have put our friends and families at our fingertips, and group chats have revolutionized the way we socialize, collaborate, and organize. ![]() Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad. ![]() How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages. ![]()
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