Last Update: March 3, 2022
Secure messaging apps are essential in the digital age, when information can be sent instantly around the world. This may appear to be good news, but what if the shared information contains sensitive information, such as a secret message to your brother, an email report to your boss, or an online resume?
This heinous crime against humanity is committed on a regular basis online, so it's not just a "what if."
When it was revealed in 2015 that the NSA was collecting nearly 200 million text messages per day, it became clear that the government was violating our online and offline privacy.
As a result, intelligent messaging apps ensure that all information is secure and private until the encryption process is completed.
We understand your interest in learning how we know these apps are risk-free. For your convenience, we put them through rigorous testing. We tested several messaging apps to see if they were truly secure.
According to an EFF test, nearly all messaging apps, including Facebook Messenger, Kik Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, BBM, Hangout, Viber, Skype, WhatsApp, and Snapchat, failed most messaging security standards.
According to this study, businesses could use messaging apps to collect personal data from users' private conversations for marketing purposes. These apps have the potential to be useful for communication.
In any case, recording private messages violates our privacy. It also has an impact on everyone, including individuals and organizations. As a result, they have compelling reasons to put secure messaging apps on their list of must-haves.
Everyone understands why these businesses cannot afford to lose customers. In health care, for example, all patient records are kept. Leaks of patient data are extremely dangerous. These industries, more than any other, require secure messaging apps.
As a consequence, they will be targeted by more cybercriminals. Some compelling reasons to use secure messaging apps may have already emerged from our brief introduction; now, let's take a look at our top 7 messaging apps for data security and privacy. Among the more secure texting apps are:
Many messaging apps today exaggerate their claims to be the best. Threema is not one of these. Instead, this is a fantastic secure messaging app. It is one of the most widely used messaging apps today, and for good reason.
Threema keeps its word. It prevents the government, organizations, and cybercriminals from accessing personal information. Threema prevents others from reading private messages, group chats, shared media, and even public status updates. Nothing appears to stand in the way of true end-to-end encryption.
This is because the cryptographic keys for encryption and decryption are only stored on the endpoints. Threema respects your privacy and does not share your personal information with anyone. Messages are deleted from the servers as soon as they are delivered.
Individual and group contact information is saved locally.
Threema is a popular messaging app that is designed to keep your personal information private.
Because the Threema ID is unique, there is no need to enter any personal information on your Threema account. Furthermore, Threema supports the transmission of documents in a variety of formats, including doc, pdf, zip, gif, mp3, voice messages, and, of course, SMS.
Signal, like Threema, is deserving of all the attention it receives. The goal of Signal is to provide users with worry-free conversations with their loved ones, but this does not appear to be the case anymore. It is now a mission that has been completed.
Over the years that Signal has been on the market, its users have been satisfied with its secure messaging features. Signal, unlike Threema, employs the use of a phone number. That, however, is not an issue. End-to-end encryption is used in your Signal conversations.
The servers do not save chat history or online activities. Cryptographic protocols are used to keep messages secure. Signal claims that no data is stored on the device.
All of the previously mentioned characteristics appear to be proof.
Signal, on the other hand, is about more than just protecting users' privacy. It also ensures that you have a pleasant experience navigating the platform.
As a messaging app, it can, of course, send texts and make phone calls, but it can also do a lot more. Signal has a lot to offer for a free app, from comprehensive group chats to highly encrypted archive functionality.
Who could forget about Telegram, WhatsApp's primary competitor in this space? Despite the fact that Telegram, like the other messaging apps on this list, has end-to-end encryption, it has one unique feature that sets it apart from the competition: Secret Chats.
A feature that allows content to be destroyed if viewed by another user is an important feature that contributes to Telegram's inclusion on this list of the best secure messaging apps.
Telegram is accessible via a variety of platforms, including mobile and web versions. Telegram, which is both secure and fast, provides continuous speed and dependability in a secure and dependable manner.
Broadcasts and group chats, as well as cloud syncing, file and media sharing, are just a few of the platform's many features.
Furthermore, there are no restrictions on the size of the object in question. Aside from that, Telegram does not charge a monthly or annual subscription fee, so using this service is completely free!
Wickr claims to be the "Top Secret Messenger." Although it isn't completely hidden (as anyone can see), it deserves to be at the very top. Wickr is yet another messaging app that places a high value on the security of its users' communications.
Just by looking at the list of features, you can tell. Wickr, for example, encrypts plaintexts, images, videos, voice messages, and other chat content from beginning to end.
Wickr also has a "Shredder" feature that permanently deletes chat content from a device after it has been used. Finally, another Wickr feature that ensures complete security is the anonymity of Wickr ID. This ensures that a user will not be required to enter personal metadata information for the purposes of privacy protection and privacy invasion prevention.
Wickr also allows users to set the expiration date for messaging content. After the specified date, the content will be automatically deleted.
Wickr claims that, despite providing a messaging platform, it does not read, collect, or own any personal messaging content displayed on Wickr.
Wickr has a lot to say about features other than secure messaging. Wickr not only lets you send text messages, images, audio files, and videos, but it also lets you create groups (although there is a slight limit of ten contacts per group). It's designed to make users' messaging experiences much cooler by including graffiti, stickers, and photo filters.
Surespot is without a doubt the most secure platform available, if not the best. Surespot Encrypted Messenger is easy to use and has excellent privacy and security features.
Symmetric key encryption is used throughout the entire process to encrypt every message from beginning to end. So, with Surespot, you have complete control over nearly all features and functions.
Surespot allows users to create multiple identities and contacts in order to keep track of them all.
Because it provides complete privacy protection for your information and activities, you can maintain your anonymity.
Surespot has few and far between graphical features, but it has everything you could possibly need for privacy and identity protection. The app's free version has a limited number of messaging features; however, you can upgrade to a paid version for even more.
ChatSecure is yet another messaging app that encrypts your messages, this time using AES encryption. Furthermore, it offers a number of security and privacy features to its users. However, the XMP (Extensive Messaging and Presence) Protocol is less secure when it comes to OTR (Off the Record) encryption.
ChatSecure uses source code and cryptographic libraries to provide an extra layer of security. SQLCipher has been installed, and it is used to encrypt conversation logs stored on the storage device. Users have several options for logging into ChatSecure.
To keep your account information safe, use your Google or Facebook login credentials, create a new public account on one of the XMPP servers, or use your server.
ChatSecure may appear difficult to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature.
ChatSecure, true to its word, is simply doing everything possible to protect the privacy of its users' communications. After all, as the name implies, that is exactly what it is designed to do. ChatSecure, a messaging app, is also available for free on the iTunes and Google Play Stores.
Because of its unusual but endearing messaging concept, Cyber Dust is the coolest and most distinctive messaging app on this list. However, it is also the most expensive option.
Communications in Cyber Dust are known as Dust, whereas communications over the airwaves are known as Blast. For all Dusts and Blasts, a password protection system is in place.
Cyber Dust messages are protected by security keys of 128 bits AES encryption and 2048 bits RSA. Photographs, like in every other messaging app on this list, are not permitted in Cyber Dust. Blasts and dusts are never kept in the storage room.
All sent messages are lost in the first 100 seconds. Messages that have not been opened within 24 hours are deleted.
Cyber Dust, according to its creators, is also a social media platform and a messaging app. Users can both follow and be followed by others.
User groups with similar interests can also be formed and joined in Cyber Dust. Cyber Dust keeps you up to date on the latest news as well as current information on the lives of your favorite celebrities.
Whether you use an unencrypted or encrypted messaging app, your messages will be delivered as usual, and the texting app will function normally. The main difference between the two platforms is the level of security provided. When you use an encrypted messaging platform, every message you send is encrypted and fully protected.
A regular messaging app, on the other hand, lacks encryption, resulting in some security flaws. End-to-end encryption is available in the majority of today's encrypted messaging apps.
For example, with e2e encryption, the app's algorithm converts your text into unreadable data with random symbols and letters the moment you type it and hit the send button. It is then sent to the recipient's device and decrypted with a private key.
Although the encryption protocol used by your chat app may differ, this is how encryption works. If you encrypt a message, hackers or even your internet service provider will be unable to decipher what you're saying if they intercept your internet traffic.
Any secure texting app will have additional security features in addition to encryption. These features could include messages that vanish, no user data being stored on servers, and more.
With digital surveillance at an all-time high, security experts recommend using the most secure texting app available today. So, what are the benefits and drawbacks of using an encrypted chat app, and why should you be concerned?
The primary advantage of using an encrypted instant messaging platform is the ability to remain anonymous while avoiding digital surveillance by the government, private companies, and malicious hackers.
Many people argue that encryption is pointless because they have nothing to hide and that using an encrypted app is unnecessary. Nonetheless, this logic ignores the complexities of the threats we face in the digital world today.
Companies are tracking you online and creating profiles on you, the government is listening to what you say and keeping tabs on you, and hackers are looking for ways to defraud you of your hard-earned money or hold your privacy hostage.
A private messaging app has never been more important. While a secure texting platform can help keep your messages private, criminals can use it to further their nefarious goals. They will be able to avoid prosecution by using a private messaging app.
Although it may appear complex, texting encryption technology is quite simple, and the fundamentals of how it works are easy to understand. When you send a message to someone, the encryption protocol converts the text into gibberish before sending it to the intended recipient.
Then, before displaying that the message has been delivered on the app, a unique private key is used to convert it back to readable state when it reaches the receiver's device. Encryption isn't just for text messages; it also applies to audio, video, and anything else you're permitted to send via a secret texting app.
There are various encryption systems, but that's how it works regardless of whether you're using Android, iOS, or another operating system.
Encryption is an older technology. For example, the native text messaging app on your iPhone or Android device most likely employs encryption technology to safeguard your SMS messages. Encryption is also available in many Apple App Store and Google Play Store apps.
There are numerous options available today if you're looking for a user-friendly, private messaging app. Although all of the apps mentioned in this article are excellent, SignalSignal is our favorite. In 2018, the Signal Messenger was released for the first time.
Nonetheless, its popularity has grown in recent years as more people become aware of the dangers of digital messaging and seek a safer alternative. The creators of Signal are committed to providing the best customer service possible.
The app is regularly updated with new features that make messaging more enjoyable and convenient for users while also giving them more control over the service. For example, the Signal Messenger app is free of clutter, and you can customize how it appears on your device.
Signal supports cross-platform encryption, so you can switch from your phone to your laptop while maintaining complete privacy. You have the option of having your messages deleted or backed up.
You can secure your Signal app with a pin code, ensuring that no one else who has access to your phone can read your messages.
Signal features in-app payments, an incognito keyboard, @ mentions in group chat, and much more. Signal is a good option if you want an app that offers security, convenience, and an easy-to-use interface.
There is a significant difference in terms of safety when using an encrypted messaging app versus an app that does not offer any form of encryption.
Regardless of which private messaging app you use or what type of encryption protocol it employs, your messages are significantly more secure than if you do not use an encrypted chat app.
An encrypted platform allows you to have a private chat experience. No one, not even your internet service provider, has access to your messages or can track what you do on the app. In contrast, if you use an unencrypted messaging app, anyone can intercept your internet data packets and listen in on your conversations.
When you use an encrypted messaging platform, whether for SMS messages or to exchange videos and other content, you are completely protected from any online attacks. Hackers will be unable to carry out phishing attacks on you.
If you choose to have your messages vanish and your data not be stored on any servers, you can chat anonymously online without leaving any traces of your interaction. To summarize, the benefits of using an encrypted messaging service in terms of security and anonymity are substantial.
Choosing the most secure text messaging app is a highly individual decision. The Wickr app, on the other hand, is one of the most secure.
This app uses advanced cryptography techniques like AES-256 encryption as well as other encryption techniques like ECDH521 and RSA4096 TLS. Messages can also be deleted automatically and from the company's servers.
Other security features of this app ensure that your messages cannot be traced back to you and are completely secure.
All of the apps discussed in this article are excellent for secret messaging. They have a variety of security features and can be used for both simple text messaging and the exchange of multimedia content.
If we had to order the apps based on their level of privacy, they would be as follows: Some of the most popular messaging apps include Signal, Threema, Wickr, Telegram, Surespot, ChatSecure, and Cyber Dust.
These are available as both an Android app and an iPhone app.
Each app's level of security varies, and while some provide a truly untraceable experience, others do not.
To remain untraceable, you must ensure that your messages are not saved on your device, backed up in the cloud, or stored on any server.
Most of the apps listed above have this option. It is also possible to configure your native SMS messaging app so that messages are sent and received in an untraceable manner.
When it comes to messaging apps, privacy and security are two of the most important features. Text messages used to be sent through your cellular provider's network and could be monitored with a warrant by law enforcement or other third-party entities.
That is no longer the case, thanks to the proliferation of encrypted messaging apps. Encrypted messaging apps use cryptographic protocols to scramble your messages so that only the intended recipient can read them.
This includes your mobile service provider, the app developer, and the government. As a result, these apps are not only more secure than traditional SMS messaging, but they are also more private. If you want to increase your privacy, you can always use a VPN service. You can find a good VPN here.
