Do you remember the days when we wrote letters to friends and family, waited for weeks for a response, and kept those precious letters in our drawers? It was a simpler time when no one had to worry about the government and hackers spying on us.
But now, with technology taking our communication to the digital era, keeping our chats safe and secure is more important than ever.
In this day and age, where technology has become an integral part of our lives, communication has also evolved. From telephones to messaging apps, people like you are constantly on the lookout for ways to stay connected to their loved ones or business partners.
With the rise of cybercrime and privacy concerns, the need for secure messaging has become more and more important – and not just for people in high-risk industries like healthcare or big business.
Sure, services like Facebook Messenger are ubiquitous and easy to access – but they aren’t always the safest.
So what’s the solution? You need a text secure private messenger.
What is the most secure messaging app, and how do these “secret chats” work? We’ll take a closer look in this post.
What is Secure Messaging?
Secure messaging simply refers to a communication method that protects the confidentiality of your conversations. It means that your messages are encrypted end-to-end, from sender to recipient, ensuring that only the intended recipient can access the message content.
This ensures that your communications can’t be intercepted or read by any third-party, whether it be cybercriminals, governments, or even the app developers themselves.
With data breaches becoming an increasingly common occurrence, it’s important to safeguard your private information as much as you can. This is particularly true if you engage in communication that’s related to sensitive information, such as your financial details, legal matters, or medical records.
Using a secure messaging app can help you keep your personal data private and confidential. It also prevents attackers from taking over your account, stealing your data, or even impersonating your identity.
What to Look for in a Text Secure Private Messenger
When you’re looking for a secure messaging app, there are a few key factors to consider – namely, end-to-end encryption capabilities, the ability for multi-mode communication, and the ability to move to multiple platforms.
There are a few other factors to keep in mind as well – let’s take a closer look.
Multi-Mode Communication
When choosing a secure messaging app, look for one that provides multi-mode communication. This means that you should be able to send text messages, voice calls, video calls, and even file transfers, all in a secure manner. This enhances flexibility and ease of use, regardless of the type of communication you want to have.
Cross Platform Compatibility
Another essential factor to consider when selecting a secure messaging app is cross-platform compatibility.
You want an app that works well on various platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. This ensures that you’ll be able to communicate seamlessly with anyone, regardless of the device they’re using.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the most important measures a messaging app can take to ensure your privacy and security. It’s an additional layer of protection that requires an extra step before accessing your account.
You can use a password, biometrics, or smart cards. It makes it difficult for unauthorized users to access your messages, even if they somehow get your login credentials.
User-Friendly Interface
The most secure messaging app should have a user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for you to navigate, keep track of conversations, and customize the settings. It also enhances user satisfaction, which is a critical factor in app adoption and retention.
Android vs. iOS
When it comes to choosing a messaging app, one of the first decisions you’ll make is whether you want an Android or iOS app. Both platforms have secure options, but some features may only be available on one or the other.
Open Source Code
Another factor to consider when finding a secure messaging app is whether the code is open source. Open source code means that anyone can verify the app’s security.
Signal and Sekur are two great examples of messaging apps with open source code.
Ability to Do Group Chats
If group chats are important to you, then finding a messaging app that allows them is a must.
It’s important to note that group chats can make the app less secure, as more people mean more potential vulnerabilities, so be sure to choose an app with strong encryption.
Self-Destructing Messages
For those who want an added layer of security, self-destructing messages are a must-have feature of your chat apps. These messages automatically delete themselves after a set amount of time, ensuring that no one can access the message after it’s been read.
Snapchat was the first app to popularize this feature, but it’s not the most secure option.
Encrypted Metadata
Though many secure messaging apps use encryption, they can still collect metadata about you, including device info, your IP address, and geolocation. The most secure apps don’t collect this information, or they let you easily opt out of data collection.
Privacy Policy
It’s also important to read the privacy policy of any messaging app you’re considering. Make sure the app is transparent about how they handle user data and who they share it with.
Responsible Data Collection
In addition to encrypted metadata, you want to make sure the messaging app you choose is responsible with their data collection.
Look for apps that give you control over what data is being collected (such as your IP address, geolocation, device info, etc.) and how it’s being used. For example, the app Wickr allows you to choose whether or not to save conversations and even allows you to set messages to auto-delete.
End-to-End Encrypted Backups
Finally, you want to choose a messaging app that offers end-to-end encrypted backups. This adds an extra layer of security to your messages, ensuring that even if your device is lost or stolen, your messages will remain safe and private.
What Are the Best Encrypted Messaging Apps?
Now that you understand basic encryption protocol and what to look for in a messaging platform, it’s time to choose the private messaging app that works best for you.
There are countless options out there when you’re looking for an instant messaging service, but here are some of our favorites.
Signal
Signal is an open-source messaging app that uses advanced end-to-end encryption to protect your messages. It’s widely regarded as one of the most secure messaging apps available, and even WhatsApp uses Signal’s encryption technology.
The app also allows you to send self-destructing messages, create encrypted group chats, and make encrypted voice and video calls. Plus, it’s completely free and advertisement-free. It even has the ability for you to block screenshots!
WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. It also uses end-to-end encryption, so your messages, voice calls, and video calls are secure from eavesdroppers. Of course, it also comes with two factor authentication to thwart hackers, too.
It even includes the ability to make encrypted group chats for up to 256 people. WhatsApp also offers fun features like stickers and emojis to liven up your messages.
Wire
Wire is a sleek messaging app that combines end-to-end encryption with rich multimedia messaging features. You can send text, voice, video, and files with up to 10GB of storage per account.
The app also offers self-destructing messages and burn-on-read messages for additional security. Wire is free to use for personal messaging, but businesses will need to pay for additional features.
Viber
Another one of the best secure messaging apps is Viber. Known for its high-quality video call service, Viber is also a great option for those who want a secure messaging app. Viber uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that only the intended recipient can read the message.
It also allows you to hide your conversations, block messages from unknown contacts, and verify the identity of your contact list.
Silence
An open-source messaging app that is easy to use and highly secure, Silence doesn’t keep any records of your conversations and uses strong encryption protocols. It also offers a unique feature that allows you to set a timer for your messages, so they disappear after a specified time.
Apple iMessage
Pre-installed as a mobile app on all Apple devices, iMessage is a popular messaging app that provides end-to-end encryption for all its users. It also supports group messages, allows you to send files and videos, and has a built-in feature that prevents texts from being delivered until the recipient is online.
Threema
A privacy-focused messenger app that is popular in Europe, Threema has robust encryption features that keep your messages and calls private. It doesn’t require a phone number to sign up, supports video and voice calls, and offers a unique feature that creates a random ID for each user to ensure complete anonymity while engaged in a private chat.
Wickr Me
Wickr Me emphasizes privacy and anonymity. You can exchange messages, images, and files with end-to-end encryption, and then choose the length of time before the message self-destructs.
The secure messenger app claims to be one of the few that provides the assurance of no information sharing or collection with advertisers, marketers, or other third parties.
Telegram
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app that provides end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, and the ability to create secret chats.
The app is entirely free to use and offers features like groups with up to 200,000 members and polls within the chat to easily gather opinions from the group. Telegram does not store your data in the cloud, so your messages are stored locally on your device.
A favorite feature cited by many Telegram users is that you can change phone numbers while keeping your account data as long as you remain on the same device.
Line
One of the most popular messaging apps in Asia, Line uses end-to-end encryption to protect your messages and calls.
It also offers a wide range of features, including group chats, voice messages, and video calls, and a social media platform that allows you to share photos and updates with your friends.
The Best Option for a Text Secure Private Messenger: Sekur
Most communication platforms cannot guarantee the safety of your conversations. Nonetheless, there’s one messaging app that sets itself apart from the rest — Sekur.
When it comes to the safety and security of your conversations, Sekur is ahead of its competitors. This is because it practices end-to-end encryption, meaning your message is decrypted only once it gets to the recipient. This way, it is impossible for third parties to access or decipher your conversations.
Plus, the app does not store your data on its servers, which minimizes the risk of a data breach. So, if you are a privacy-conscious person and want a secure messaging app, then Sekur is the best option for you.
Sekur has a sleek and easy-to-use interface. The app design ensures a smooth usability experience increasing user adoption. You don’t need any technical knowledge to navigate through its features, and it’s suitable for both personal and business use.
Sekur secures its server operations in Switzerland. This country is known for its strict privacy laws making the server and the messages on it even more protected. Switzerland also has one of the best data privacy policies in the world, and the servers are protected by the Swiss Federal Data Protection Act and the Swiss Federal Data Protection Ordinance.
Besides end-to-end encryption, Sekur is a private messaging app that provides additional security features to guarantee your safety. For instance, it has a self-destruct message feature, which allows you to set a timer for your messages’ self-destruction, making sure your messages stay private.
With its user-friendly interface, Swiss server, and end-to-end encryption, your messages remain private, and it’s affordable. With Sekur, you have a solution that will keep your conversations secure and give you peace of mind.
So, why not try Sekur today and experience a true text secure private messenger?
