Whatsapp, Telegram, and the Signal the three big names when it comes to secure digital messaging platforms, but which one should you use if you want the utmost security and privacy when you're chatting with your friends and family?
Well, as it can imagine the answer isn't too simple. Each of these services has different pros and cons, which you need to evaluate.
So, let's dive right into it, starting with WhatsApp.
*Also Read:- How to use Signal App on Desktop
1.WhatsApp
Created in 2009 as freeware and Later purchased by Facebook in 2014.
It is one of the most popular messaging platforms ever, and it's one of the most used around the world.
On a technical level, they incorporate end-to-end encryption using the open-source signal protocol. (which what signal uses) however, WhatsApp suffers from the classic fear of metadata. It is a broad term used by companies that collect data from their customers.
The problem with metadata is:
- We don't know what they exactly collect.
- Metadata can often reveal enough information about a specific event to use correlation techniques to track users.
Kurt from the EFF describes metadata like so.
For Example:-
They know you rang a phone-sex service at 2:24 a.m. and spoke for 18 minutes, but they don't know what you talked about
They know you called the suicide prevention hotline from the Golden Gate Bridge, but the topic of the call remains a secret
They know you spoke with an HIV test service, then your doctor, then your health insurance company in the same hour, but they don't know what was discussed.
So, metadata is very much a concern for WhatsApp, they might not know what you're saying, but it's not difficult to put pieces together to figure it out.
The other concern is Facebook. We all know that Facebook is one of the world's largest data collectors, and they offer free services because they're able to use your data for profit.
WhatsApp is an entirely free application without ads. Which makes people wonder what's in it for Facebook there's? Zero evidence to accuse Facebook of doing any wrongdoing here, but it is important to ask questions for why they would offer a secure and private messaging platform for free?
As for what WhatsApp requires for you to create an account, they require a valid phone number this is unfortunate takes away a large portion of the privacy aspect of using the service especially since they are collecting metadata.
On a more positive note, though, WhatsApp, as I said, is heavily used around the world. So, you're going to have many people, either already using, is willing to use it, or want to get involved.
They probably have the best overall user experience between the three services we're comparing today.
Offering group chats with up to 256 people take that Apple read receipts, typing statuses, voice & video calls, document sharing, audio messages. And it can be used on almost every major device officially supported.
*Also Read:- Signal vs WhatsApp
2.Telegram
Another popular messaging platform. With a slightly different feature set and target audience.
The telegram was created in 2013 by the same creator of VK. And it has proved to be one of the most popular services out there.
On a technical level, their client applications so, the apps themselves are open source but, the server ends side of the telegram is closed source.
Meaning they use their proprietary software to handle the messages and encryption. Which is not a good thing? When we're evaluating the security of a service. People can't verify the code, encryption for bugs, and backdoors.
Additionally, by default, chats aren't encrypted and if they are, you're forced not to save your conversation history, which will discourage a lot of people from enabling any form of encryption in the first place.
They don't even offer a transparency report and have similar privacy issues that WhatsApp has collecting your data and metadata when it's unneeded.
The telegram also requires a phone number to set up an account, which sucks.
So both security and privacy suffer in telegram even though they have hype themselves up to be super private and secure on their website.
But where they do succeed, their large feature set very similar to WhatsApp. You can send files, make calls, send stickers, and have read receipts and typing statuses.
But telegram separates itself with the inclusion of channels that allows one person or a group of people to send out updates to a large group of followers - similar to discord or Reddit.
All in all, privacy and security on telegram are weak, compared to WhatsApp, and features seem to match if not fall behind WhatsApp.
So, I would recommend WhatsApp over telegram for one-on-one conversations. Groups could turn it to personal preference, and if you own a channel on telegram, you won't be able to do anything like that over on WhatsApp. So, that's a very specific advantage telegram have over WhatsApp.
The very last service we take a look at today is signal.
*Also Read:- Signal App Review
3.Signal
Signal has a very messy history being renamed, shut down, and reopened on numerous occasions, but it officially became titled signal in 2015.
Signal uses open source clients and the open-source signal protocol for their encryption. Which is what WhatsApp uses, but where they differ is how do they handle your personal information.
Metadata inside of signal is treated extremely carefully with OWS asserting their servers do not keep logs, and the closest piece of information to metadata that they store is the last time each user connected to the server and this is reduced to the day, not the hour or minute.
The only issue with the signal - they require a personal phone number to register. That many users complain about, and people are hoping to see an email option available in the future to give a more private method of using the signal.
So, when it comes to privacy and security, it's hard to tackle signal. It is the king of the list if that's your priority. However, the signal doesn't fare as strongly is in the actual usability of the program. There are no typing statuses, doesn't offer that many features and settings.
Sending files and images isn't the greatest thing. And group chats are the most frustrating aspect of signal they need to redesign the group chats because it's not good on the bright side.
They do offer both video and audio calls that utilize the same high-security protocols. It's a simple and uncluttered experience. If that's something you enjoy, you can get it working on every operating system including Linux, and for Android, you can have signal be your default messenger managing your SMS, text, and signal messages within the same app.
It's very similar to how Apple handles iMessage and SMS inside of iPhones.
Comparison - WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal
Conclusion
To summarize the pros and cons of each service:
WhatsApp has better security, average privacy, excellent features, and usability.
Telegram has average security, average privacy, excellent features, and usability.
Signal has better security, great privacy, excellent features, and usability.
If you want another resource to compare these messengers and some other popular ones out there, then check here.
That's all I have to say. Let me know what your favorite messenger is in the comments below.
Thanks
*Also Read:- How to Use Signal Private Messenger App
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