Most of us wanted to be secured from the government, hackers, internet providers, or any companies potentially intercepting our private messages, and you should make sure that what you are using is secured and safe.
Internet privacy is always a hot topic, in 2016 the UK’s Parliament has passed the Investigatory Power Act, which expands the power of the UK Intelligence Community and Police. In 2018, AU forced WhatsApp to include spyware so that they can see what you are typing.
While there are many messaging apps on the market today, not all of them are secured as they promised. Our Top 10 best secure messaging app in 2020 will help your messages stay secure and safe.
Encrypted Apps
Apps that offer end-to-end encryption doesn’t mean that is their default setting. Most messaging apps will require you to go in the app’s settings and manually turn on the encryption feature. Since encryption is still new, many people just assume that the app is safe without learning about the encrypted feature default settings.
Open Source code
Fear of creating backdoors in the open-source app code seems counterintuitive, but it is now widely regarded as app integrity since the experts can check the code and let the app makers know about the weaknesses or vulnerabilities.
Data Collection
Some apps are still collecting data information about you, its called metadata. This is your electronic fingerprint that includes data such as your contact list, time, date, and information about the device that you are using.
10 Best Secure Messaging App in 2020
Signal
Originally as TextSecure Private Messenger, Signal has been the gold standard of messaging security by Edward Snowden, US congress, and EU commission. Available as a free messaging app on iPhone and Android, Signal sends messages across its own data infrastructure.
Pros
- End-to-End Encryption
- Open Source
- Disappearing messages
Cons
- Requires phone to set up
- No Two-way authentication
Wickr Me
They separated themselves from the pack of messaging apps because of their secure technology, on both packages. Wickr Me is free, while Wickr Pro is a paid service with a 30-day free trial.
Pros
- End-to-End Encryption
- Third-Party Keyboards
- Secure Shredder
Cons
- Message handling is unusual
- Code is public in Github, but not open-source
Dust
Dust or also known as Cyber Dust is Mark Cuban’s brainchild. Dust’s main goal is to create an app that is able to send private messages, photos, or even videos that turns into dust and disappear within 30 seconds from being read.
Pros
- End-to-End Encryption
- No permanent storage
- Screenshot Alerts
Cons
- Messages are gone in 100 seconds (some are not a fan of this)
- Contacts are inconsistent
300 million daily users, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging apps used today. You can easily send a text messages, photos, short videos, and even voice messages.
Pros
- End-to-End Encryption
- Two-step verification
- Messages not stored
Cons
- Unencrypted backups
- Facebook Privacy Issues
Telegram
200 million users from iOS and Android, Telegram is still growing since 2013 debut. Telegram is being used as a messaging app by ISIS, which makes it a target from law enforcement.
Pros
- End-to-End Encryption
- Self-Destructing Message
- Account Self-Destruct
Cons
- End-to-End Encryption is not enabled by default
- Logging Chat Data
- Flawed Encryption Technology
Apple iMessage
iMessage only supports iOS version 5.0 and later. It allows you to send text, documents, videos, photos, contact information, and group messages. iMessage is very popular on iPhone users.
Pros
- End-to-End Encryption
- Self-Destruct Message
- iMessage Delete Messages
Cons
- iCloud Backup
- Encryption Weaknesses
Facebook Messenger
Facebook messenger or known as Messenger offers a convenient way to keep up with friends and family due to its popularity.
Pros
- End-to-End Encryption
- Self-Destruct Message
Cons
- Privacy Concerns
- Encryption Issues
How can I stay safe?
Everyone has the right to online privacy and deserves to message their family, friends without worrying about companies sneaking into your conversations. In reality, people should use a secure messaging app like Signal or Wickr to communicate with one another.
Since Messenger and WhatsApp are more popular than the rest, people prefer convenience over security. If you choose to use a less secure messaging app, make sure you use a VPN protection. VPN will help you protect from snooping companies waiting for your data to be grabbed and used, you can check out our VPN coupon codes.
