In summary
- The arrest and indictment of Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French authorities has sparked a renewed debate over which messaging app provides the most privacy and protection for users.
- Signal, a messaging app launched in 2014, offers end-to-end encryption and is open source, making it a popular choice for privacy-conscious users.
- Wire, launched in 2014, is an open-source messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption and collaboration tools, available on multiple platforms.
The arrest and indictment of Telegram founder Pavel Durov by French authorities has sparked a renewed debate over which messaging app provides the most privacy and protection for users. Despite its widespread popularity, many critics claim that Telegram’s security is lacking.
Government interest in privacy-preserving technology is intense, as criminals have used encrypted apps to hide their crimes. But these tools are also vital for journalists, dissidents and survivors of abuse.
Let’s take a look at some of the top privacy-focused messaging apps for desktop, iOS, and Android. To compile this list, we considered apps that include end-to-end encryption, are open source and open to public scrutiny, allow for anonymity, and offer robust usability and features.
Signal
The main rival of the popular messaging app Telegram, Signal is a messaging app launched in June 2014 that offers private and encrypted messaging and calling. Signal is available for both desktop and mobile devices.
Known for its strong privacy features, Signal offers end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, and video calls, ensuring that only the sender and receiver can read or listen to them. Features include self-destructing messages, encrypted group chats, and the ability to verify contacts outside of the app for added security.
Signal is open source and does not collect user data, making it a popular choice for privacy-conscious users. It is also available for Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows.
Wire
Wire is an open-source messaging app launched in 2014. Aimed at businesses, law enforcement, and government agencies, Wire offers end-to-end encryption and collaboration tools. Wire supports text, voice, and video messaging, as well as file sharing and group chats. Features include timed messaging, device syncing, and encrypted video calling.
Wire is available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Session
For users looking for a decentralized Blockchain-based option, Session is an open-source private messaging app launched in 2020 by The Oxen Project based on the Signal protocol. It emphasizes privacy and security, with features like IP masking, end-to-end encryption, no phone number or email required, and message routing. Its setup is similar to Tor, leveraging the Loki network (Lokinet) to protect users’ identities.
Session also offers group chats, voice and video calls, and file sharing. It is designed to minimize the collection of metadata, ensuring anonymity and secure communication for its users.
Sessions is available for Android, OS, macOS and Windows.
Dust
Dust was originally launched in 2014 as CyberDust by billionaire investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban along with Radical App. It is a secure messaging app with a focus on privacy. Available for both Android and iOS, Dust is not open source. Still, it offers end-to-end encryption, messages automatically self-destruct, and users can also delete messages from both their device and the recipient’s device. Additionally, to enhance user privacy, Dust does not store any data on its servers.
Like Telegram and Signal, Dust features private group chats. Dust will also alert the user if someone takes screenshots of a conversation.
While no messaging app can be considered completely private, options like Signal, Wire, Sessions, and Dust offer compelling tools for ensuring more secure communication.
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