WhatsApp vs Signal vs Telegram: Which is safer? - TechnW3

Facebook-owned WhatsApp’s Privacy Policy updates have prompted unhappy users to look for alternative apps. determine which of the three hottest messaging apps is safer. 

HIGHLIGHTS

WhatsApp has updated its Privacy policy allowing other Facebook owned companies access to WhatsApp data.

Sparked by concerns over user data privacy, people are turning to alternative messaging apps for increased security.

The second hottest messaging app Telegram and a replacement entrant Signal (which has been endorsed by Elon Musk) also offer some impressive security measures. 

Whatsapp currently is that the most important messaging service within the planet with over 2 billion monthly active users. Following that, Telegram accounts for 400 million and Signal stands at a ballpark of 10-20 million monthly active users. Simply watching the raw numbers would suggest that WhatsApp is hugely popular and almost ubiquitous while Telegram is catching up and Signal seems to possess just joined the million downloads race. However, numbers don't often tell you the entire story, hence here we do a comprehensive comparison of the three app’s security and features.

FEATURES:

Whatsapp

WhatsApp offers almost every feature you'd possibly need. You get support for group chats with up to 256 members. you'll also broadcast messages to multiple contacts at the same time. It also supports voice and video calls, both for people and groups. However, for group video calls, you're restricted to eight users at any time. Further, WhatsApp also offers a standing feature (also called WhatsApp stories) almost like Instagram stories.

Whatsapp also allows you to share all types of files and documents, but there are file size limits to stay to. For photos, videos, and audio files, the limit is 16 MB. However, documents are often up to 100 MB. you'll also share live location along side your contacts which i'm sure many users find this feature helpful.

And since WhatsApp is meant for general users, it offers seamless backup and restore functionality through cloud services like Google Drive and iCloud. and thus the higher part is that cloud backup is completely free.

Telegram

Telegram app offers numerous features that it’s incredible. almost like WhatsApp, you get the basics like chats, group chats, and channels. However, unlike WhatsApp’s 256 member limit, Telegram brings support for groups with up to 200,000 members. It also offers multiple group-specific features like bots, polls, quizzes, hashtags, and tons more which can make group experiences tons more fun.

The app also offers a singular feature, self-destructing messages (like Snapchat) which is great if you’re sending messages that you simply simply don’t want to remain on the recipient’s device for eternity. the size limit for sharing files on Telegram could also be a whopping 1.5 GB. The app now has both voice and video turn Android and iOS devices, which is great because video call support was a huge omission from the app.

Signal

Signal offers its users secure messaging, voice, and video calls and each one communications are end-to-end encrypted. Further, you'll create groups, however, you don’t have the selection to broadcast messages to multiple contacts directly . Plus, Signal has recently added support for group calling also .

It has a feature almost just like the self-destructing messages of Telegram. the only feature of Signal is “Note to Self”. Unlike WhatsApp, you don’t got to create a single-member group to send notes to yourself. On Signal, the feature is out there natively and you will jot your thoughts and ideas while messaging along side your friends and family.

Apart from that, Signal allows you to relay voice calls to its servers so your identity remains concealed from your contacts. The feature is somewhat almost like what a VPN does. There are also emojis and a couple of privacy stickers, but they're very limited as compared to WhatsApp and Telegram.

SECURITY:

Whatsapp

The end to end encryption (E2E) introduced in 2016 on WhatsApp is out there on every single mode of communication that the app enables. So all of your messages, video calls, voice calls, photos, and anything you share are end-to-end encrypted. WhatsApp uses the E2E protocol developed by Open Whisper Systems, which is that the name behind Signal messenger. That’s an honest thing, because the Signal protocol is open source, widely peer-reviewed, and is typically considered one of the only protocols for implementing end-to-end encryption in messaging platforms.

However, WhatsApp doesn't encrypt backups (cloud or local). Also, it doesn't encrypt the metadata which is used to carry communication between two endpoints. this is often often one of the most criticisms of WhatsApp’s security model. While metadata doesn't allow anyone to read your messages, it lets authorities know whom and once you messaged someone, and for how long.

All in all, WhatsApp does a fairly decent job of ensuring security for its users. That being said, WhatsApp has suffered a couple of of major privacy nightmares, especially the recent issue with group chats getting indexed on Google search. That issue has been fixed, however, it had been not an honest look for the messaging app.

Telegram

Telegram does offer some level of protection to its users. While Telegram supports E2E encryption, it’s not enabled by default. the only because of use E2E encryption on Telegram is to use its secret chats feature. However, Telegram states that it manages its message storage and decryption keys during how that one would require court orders from multiple legal systems around the world to be able to access any of your data. the company says that it's shared 0 bytes of data with third-parties and governments to this date.

Telegram groups aren't encrypted because Secret Chats are only supported for single-user communication. Moreover, Telegram’s desktop client doesn’t support E2E encryption on any platform apart from macOS.

Signal

Signal is way and away the only when it involves security, be it on the back-end or the user-facing side of the service. Signal uses the open-source Signal Protocol to implement end-to-end encryption. And a touch like WhatsApp, the E2E encryption covers all kinds of communication on Signal.

Signal goes one step further than others and encrypts your metadata too. to protect user privacy from all corners, Signal devised a replacement because of communicate between the sender and thus the recipient and it’s called Sealed Sender. Basically, with Sealed Sender, nobody are getting to be able to know not even Signal who is messaging whom, which ensures ultimate privacy. Signal by default encrypts all the local files with a 4-digit passphrase. And if you'd wish to make an encrypted local backup then you'll do that also . The app now also supports encrypted group calls.

All in all, in terms of security and privacy protection, Signal stands head and shoulder above WhatsApp and Telegram which makes it the foremost secure messaging app between the three.

What data does each app collect?

Following is that the list of data that each of the three messaging apps collects from their users:

WhatsApp

Device ID

User ID

Advertising Data

Purchase History

Coarse Location

Phone Number

Email Address

Contacts

Product Interaction

Crash Data

Performance Data

Other Diagnostic Data

Payment Info

Customer Support

Product Interaction

Other User Content

Telegram

Contact Info

Contacts

User ID

Signal

None. (The only personal data Signal stores is your phone number)

Source: India Today