Security is a major concern for everyone today. Given the advent of surveillance by government agencies or by malicious sources, it’s incredibly important to make sure you have the best security systems in place to make sure your rights are protected. One way you can do this is by getting a secure encrypted messaging app for your smartphone or tablet. There are multiple applications out there that help you engage in conversations over an encrypted server, which in turn means that none of your conversations can be read by third parties.
We’re going to talk about five of the best secure encrypted messaging apps that you can get in an attempt to help you protect yourselves from prying eyes. You might be aware of some of these apps, and we hope you find these apps useful in your daily usage.
So let’s have a look.
5 Most Secure Encrypted Messaging Apps
Telegram
One of the early apps that offered encryption by default, Telegram is a popular messaging client that comes with 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, 2048-bit RSA encryption, and Diffie–Hellman secure key exchange, offering a robust security system for customers. The app’s claim to fame is the fact that it can work on even the slowest internet connections with messages going through within a few bytes, assuring that the message is sent across using minimal data. It also comes with all the bells and whistles of a standard instant messaging app, including features like stickers, GIFs and more.
Group chats on Telegram can hold up to 100,000 members, so the options to add people here is practically limitless. Media sharing is yet another aspect where Telegram really shines, allowing you to share large files like mp3, zip and doc formats. Lastly, the app is completely free and devoid of ads and in-app purchases. Telegram is accessible over desktop, tablets as well as smartphones, with messages syncing seamlessly across all devices.
Undoubtedly one of the most popular instant messaging applications out there, WhatsApp comes with end-to-end encryption by default, and there’s no way to disable it on the app, which is a good thing. However, WhatsApp was one of the last to bring end-to-end encryption to its services. This isn’t a concern now, though, since every chat that you have on WhatsApp is encrypted by default. In terms of communication, you have the ability to talk to people over video, voice calls (VoIP) and share media like PDFs, documents, Mp3 files and even large media files.
WhatsApp will automatically save your messages if your phone is turned off or out of coverage so that you don’t miss any message. It’s no surprise that WhatsApp has pretty much killed SMS all over the world. Since WhatsApp works over a phone number, you don’t need a separate username or PIN to use this. You also have the option to back up your messages over Google Drive, allowing you to restore all your messages and media files on a new device. Keeping with the trend, WhatsApp is a free download and has no ads or in-app purchases.
Viber
Viber is a popular app that has been around for quite some time. The primary function of this app was to offer VoIP calls, even before WhatsApp enabled the feature. But WhatsApp’s expanding feature list has made Viber somewhat obsolete. However, if you want a suitable alternative to apps like Telegram or WhatsApp, Viber will get the job done. Much like WhatsApp, Viber connects to your device using your phone number, so there’s no need to get tangled up in complicated PIN and usernames.
All calls and messages on Viber are encrypted by default, so you can be assured that none of your conversations are being tracked. The app also allows you to make international calls at no cost, which is an amazing feature to have. You also get features like GIFs, stickers, media etc, so it’s no different from any other instant messaging application out there. Although Viber is free to download, it comes with ads and in-app purchases, so it’s not as desirable as some of the other apps.
Line
Although you might not have heard of Line before, it’s an incredibly popular app in Asia with over half a billion installs on the Google Play Store alone. Line also works as a social network on its own given its timeline feature, allowing you to share quick moments with your contacts. Naturally, it also comes with encryption, which was enabled as a feature in 2015. The secure key is stored on the user’s device and not on a central server, meaning nobody has access to these but you.
In terms of features, Line has a lot to offer. It allows you to make group video or voice calls, something that most instant messaging apps don’t offer. Calls can be made from a smartphone or a computer, adding further versatility to the app. Line also allows you to make international calls directly from the app with the company promising super low costs per call. Calls to other Line users are completely free, however. The app also has a wide collection of stickers that will enhance every conversation. It’s a free download on the Play Store but comes with ads and in-app purchases.
Signal
Signal is quite unique in that it comes with open source peer-reviewed cryptographic protocols, allowing practically anybody to review its security protocols for loopholes. It is also one of the few open source instant messaging applications out there. The app has been built with security in mind, and although it has lost relevance with the presence of WhatsApp and Telegram, it continues to be a very good app for those concerned about privacy.
Signal is compatible with both smartphones and tablets. It utilizes your phone number to sync contacts immediately. It also comes with voice calling and video calling features. The app is completely free to download and has no ads or in-app purchases. Be sure to check it out.