When we talk about secure messaging apps, the most common words are Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp. Today we meet with them face to face which is the safest messaging app for Android.
Therefore, we will leave the background design, functionality, number of users and other important factors when comparing messaging applications to focus only security and privacy of these three applications. Which will stand better?
Permissions
The first thing to consider when installing an app is if you care about your privacy the permits they needWhile it is true that this has changed a lot since Mashmallow and its permits at the time of arrival. With these permits they are only asked if they are needed, and you are free to grant them if you do not want to use the service.
Phone and WhatsApp approx the same permissions except for SMS access (used for account verification), which is no longer required for Telegrams but is still available on WhatsApp. The signal has the same Telegram permissions but adds one more: one calendar. This permission is used to share your calendar events with other people on Signal.
All these applications use the permissions correctly
All three jobs use active permissions, invoking them only when necessary. Therefore, you only need to give the camera permission to send the photos, or the storage permission to send the files and images stored on the cell phone. In this case, all applications behave the same.
Where there are differences in what permissions are really needed for the application process. The Telegraph emphasizes enough during the initial setup to give you access to the call log, however you can use it without giving one permission. Same with Signal: your life will be easier if you add permission to your contacts, even though technology can do without them, adding a username to the Telegraph or a telephone number on the Signal.
WhatsApp is the only "compelling" thing to give access to your contacts. Without it, you can't start a conversation with the app yourself, even though you can use this method to talk to someone with their phone number. In summary, these three applications handle permissions overnight, even though WhatsApp makes it very difficult for you. Point by Telegraph and Signal
Access protection (PIN, finger)
Before worrying about what happens to your data on the move from your mobile phone to the receiver (e.g. encryption), you should also pay attention to the security of your data on the phone itself. If one has it physical access, even if it's just for a moment, on your phone?
I am sure that if you care about the privacy of your data you will have already established the protection of unlocking your phone, but perhaps Smart Unlock or other technology restores security. If someone has access to your phone, they can read your conversations from Telegrams, WhatsApp and Signal?
Fortunately, all three programs incorporate the traditional function of Protect external eye contact, after WhatsApp added fingerprint protection. Not one for home-based security, but it's for you to work from the settings.
There are some differences between the options available, however. Signal uses Android Lock, and it can work automatically later, while in the Telegraph you have more control, you can use a PIN or password and block the application at any time with the padlock icon. WhatsApp has protection with a few options, since it can only work with a finger. More options, more points. Point to the Telegraph.
Encryption
All three of these functions use end-to-end encryption (WhatsApp is signed by Signal creators, to be exact) although I already expect that The Telegraph will not take any point at this stage. Not because your home MTProto encryption is not secure, but why does not apply to all conversations by default (standard dialogs are recorded, but not end-to-end).
While WhatsApp and Signal use the final encryption for all communications, Telegraph is only used on private conversations, add some additional security features such as screenshots and personal injury messages.
Aside from secret conversations, Tragram keeps secret messages in between client and cloud and there is evidence that there is a risk to the implementation, starting from 2013. Although experts are not too happy with the fact that The Telegraph is implementing its implementation, on paper it appears that security has everything tied up and properly tied up.
However, it is clear that those who care about their safety choose that encryption happens entirely to the sender and receiver, with no servers in between. Although all three of these applications can do it, only WhatsApp and Signal do so in a user-friendly way, which should not take further steps.
Given that WhatsApp and Signal technologies share technology, it makes sense that they also share punctuation. Identify Signal and WhatsApp and none of the Telegram until at least includes the option of all automatic expiry negotiations, except at each time.
Metadata
Making sure your messages are transmitted securely and without anyone being able to silence them is important, though message content is as important as its metadata. Metadata in this context refers to all additional information associated with the message, except its contents.
By for exampleIf someone calls a pizzeria and orders a pizza, anyone who listens to the conversation will know what happened, but the same can be posted with metadata. This person phoned this non-pizzeria phone at lunchtime … he'd ordered a pizza. Something similar happens in our conversations.
With encryption nobody can read your messages, but they know who you are talking to and where you are coming from, with metadata
WhatsApp collects the right amount of metadata of your users such as IP addresses, dates of use, phone and model, network operator, phone number, unique device identifier, location and contacts. By disconnecting this information, even if you have not been able to read the content of the messages, you can make a good impression about who you are talking to and in some cases.
Phone It is cloud-based so all your messages, photos and files sent to non-private conversations are stored (encrypted, of course) on their servers, or depending on metadata it is unclear what other data it collects besides your contacts, devices and IP addresses. This information is stored for over a year.
Signal the only app on our list it reduces metadata which saves you. It only saves the last time you connected (date, not time) and your account phone number. Therefore, signal point.
Additional privacy / security features
Now that we’ve covered the most important thing is the time to explore the additional attributes of each application. Are they added to the functions of improve your privacy and security that others do not have?
In the case of WhatsApp, most important are the privacy options you can hide for your profile picture, connection time, details and status of some or all of the people, who can add you to groups and verify in two steps. There is not much else to attract the attention of privacy lovers.
Phone Includes two-step privacy and similar verification controls via WhatsApp, and adds automation messages, incognito keyboard support (note, you need a compatible keyboard app like Gboard or SwiftKey) as well screen protections, though only for private discussion. You can also configure Telegrams for the account to be destroyed after a certain period of time, and also prevent the text of a new message from being displayed in the notification.
Signal doesn't allow you to choose who can see your name and profile picture (it's displayed to all the contacts you have in your account) but otherwise includes 2-step verification (call here with great success Registration lock PIN), automated messaging, notifications without messages, incognito keyboard and blocking (optional) against the screen.
The signal adds to the possibility of masking your IP address on phones as well to delete old messages after exceeding a certain amount. On the off chance that all of the above is available for all interviews.
If you think Signal was born as a secure messaging app, it should come as no surprise to anyone that it offers a few privacy options as a standard. It has a lot more than Telegram, even though telephone exchange gives you more control over information and no contact with you or seeing your information. The last one the point was shared by Signal and Telegal.
Final result and comparison table
We have reached the end of the comparison and the time has come to count the votes. In case you don't feel like you want to go back to your months to add points for each app, here is a summary table.
|
|
Phone |
Signal |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Permissions |
0 |
one |
one |
|
Access protection |
0 |
one |
0 |
|
Encryption |
one |
0 |
one |
|
Metadata |
0 |
0 |
one |
|
Additional functions |
0 |
one |
one |
|
Total |
one |
3 |
4 |
For, Signal is the best application for messaging in terms of privacy and security, to score against WhatsApp and Telegram for all the frames we reviewed previously. The only thing he can't go home with access protection that, despite having it, is not as perfect as that of Telegal.
WhatsApp only goes through encryption, in the sense that it is partnering with Signal as it is enabled by the same Open Whisper hiding. Finally, The Telegraph is in second position for three points thanks to its padlock for protecting the dialogues, the accuracy of its privacy options and that you can use it technically without giving a single permission.
|
|
Phone |
Signal |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Compulsory licenses |
Contacts |
Nothing |
Nothing |
|
Conversation protection |
Yes, by foot writing |
PIN and password (fingers compatible) |
Android lock (fingerprint compatible) |
|
End encryption |
Yes, all conversations. |
Only in private conversations. |
Yes, all conversations. |
|
Collection of metadata |
IP addresses, usage dates, phone and model, network operator, phone number, unique device identifier, location and contacts |
It is unknown, but based on the clouds, everything you do on the Telegraph is recorded on their servers. |
Only phone number and last contact date |
|
2-Step Verification |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Screen protection |
No. |
Yes, he does. |
Yes |
|
Harmful messages |
No. |
Yes to private conversations |
Yes |
|
Notifications without content |
No. |
Yes, he does. |
Yes, he does. |
|
Keyboard in incognito mode |
No. |
Yes to private conversations |
Yes |
|
Mask IP in video calls |
No. |
No. |
Yes, he does. |
|
Self-injury due to unemployment |
No. |
Yes, he does. |
No. |
|
Delete messages after a certain limit |
No. |
No. |
Yes |
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