Have you ever felt like someone was always watching your every move?
Chances are, you’re not paranoid – they are actually watching you.
Hackers, cybercriminals, and even big corporations are always lurking around, waiting for you to let your guard down and take advantage of your private moments. Fear not! In today’s digital age, we have a wealth of options for apps that can keep our communication secure.
Here are five secure messaging apps that will help keep those prying eyes out of your business.
What is the Most Secure Way to Send Texts?
Privacy is a valuable asset, and the same applies to our digital conversations as well. With the rise of technology and smartphones, the way we communicate with each other has undergone a significant shift.
From physical meetings to calls, text messages, and video chats, we now have a host of ways to connect with our loved ones. But what about the security of these conversations?
With hackers and cybercriminals looming in the shadows, it’s essential to know how to keep our text messages secure. Here are some tips.
Encryption is Key
Encryption is a way of encoding your text messages so that they can only be read by you and the intended recipient. This ensures that your message can not be intercepted or read by anyone else, including hackers or just overly snoopy eyes.
The best way to ensure that your messages are encrypted is by downloading a messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption. Examples of such apps include Signal, WhatsApp, and Sekur (but we’ll go into more detail about these below).
Don’t Text Sensitive Information
This includes your social security number, credit card details or any other confidential information. Even if the recipient is trustworthy, the message may be intercepted. Instead, opt for secure channels such as email, password-protected documents, or phone calls if possible.
Keep Things Locked Up Tight
Keep your phone locked with a unique password or fingerprint. This ensures that even if someone obtains your phone, they will not be able to access your messages. If you are using a secure messaging app, make sure to enable the lock feature that requires a password to open the app.
Beware of Public Wi-Fi
When using public Wi-Fi, do not share sensitive information over text. Wi-Fi at cafes, airports, and other public spaces can be easily hacked.
This means that your messages, along with personal and confidential information, could be intercepted by a third party. Instead, opt for cellular data or a VPN service for sensitive communication.
Delete Conversations
Remember to delete your messages. Old messages may contain personal or confidential information and leaving them unencrypted for an extended period of time may put you and your contacts at risk. To avoid this, enable automatic deletion of messages or manually delete them after a set amount of time.
Use a Secure Messaging App
Again, the best way to keep your data safe and any potential vulnerabilities protected is to use a secure messaging app. A mobile app like Sekur will handle all the fine cybersecurity details for you so that you can message to your heart’s content.
What to Look for in a Secure Messaging App
When you’re searching for the most secure messaging app, it can be tough to figure out which one will work best for you.
Here are a few key features to watch out for.
End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)
We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again – when choosing a messaging app, always look for one that offers end-to-end encryption. This ensures that your messages are completely secure and that no third party can access them. When a message is sent, it is immediately encrypted, and the only person who can decrypt it is the intended recipient.
Android Devices vs. Apple iOS Compatibility
Another important factor to keep in mind is the compatibility of the messaging app. Some messaging apps may not work on all devices or may work differently on Android and iOS devices.
For instance, Apple’s iMessage only works on Apple devices, so if you’re an Android user, you would need to find another messaging app that works well for your device.
Video Calls, Voice Messages, and SMS Capabilities
Most messaging apps these days offer more than just text messaging. They come equipped with video chats, voice message, and SMS capabilities, too.
Always choose a messaging app that offers these additional features because they can really streamline your messaging experience. Instead of switching between different apps, you can do everything within one app.
Ability to Have Group Chats
Group chats are now a regular part of our daily lives. The ability to have a group chat with your friends, family, or colleagues, is just as important as having a one-on-one conversation. And let’s face it, sometimes a GIF is worth a thousand words!
When choosing a secure messaging app, look for one that allows for group chats that are both secure and easy to use – complete with your favorite GIFs.
Open-Source Code
We often take the security of our messaging apps for granted, but it’s important to understand how it works. One way to do this is to choose a messaging app that uses open-source code.
This means the source code is available for anyone to view and scrutinize for vulnerabilities. Open-source code provides transparency, which increases accountability and can help identify any security holes early on.
End-to-End Encrypted Backups
End-to-end encryption, once again, is a must-have feature when it comes to secure messaging apps. It provides a secure channel for users to communicate with one another, ensuring that no one can intercept their messages.
But this encryption also needs to extend to backups. A secure messaging app should offer end-to-end encrypted backups that only you can access – ensuring that your messages are protected even if your device is lost or stolen.
Disappearing Messages (aka Self-Destructing Messages)
As important as it is to have secure end-to-end encryption and backups, there may be times when you need to share sensitive information that you don’t want to live on indefinitely. This is where self-destructing messages come in.
A messaging app that offers this feature allows users to set an expiration time on messages, making them disappear after a predetermined period of time. This ensures that sensitive information is only available for a limited time-frame, keeping your messages secure.
Keep in mind that you’ll also want a messaging app that allows you to turn off the ability for recipients to screenshot, too.
Multi Platform Capabilities
Choosing a messaging app with multi-platform capabilities is crucial if you want to stay in touch with family and friends who use different devices or programs, including social media.
A secure messaging app should be available on different operating systems, including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. This enables you to communicate with anyone, regardless of their device or operating system.
Clearly Communicated Encryption Protocol
Encryption is the process of converting data into a code to protect it from unauthorized access.
A secure messaging app should use end-to-end encryption, which ensures that only the sender and receiver can read the messages. Look for apps that use encryption protocols such as Signal Protocol, Open Whisper Systems, or PGP (Pretty Good Privacy).
It’s also important to ensure that the encryption keys are generated and stored on the user’s device, not on the messaging app’s servers.
Does Not Collect User Data or Store Meta Data
Choose a messaging app that respects your privacy. A secure messaging app should not collect user data or store metadata. Metadata includes information such as the date and time a message was sent, the recipient’s name, and the user’s location.
Apps that collect and store metadata may be vulnerable to data breaches and may use the information for advertising purposes.
You should also avoid one that logs IP addresses. An IP address is a unique identifier used to locate and connect devices to the internet. A secure messaging app should not log IP addresses, as this information can be used to track a user’s location and online activity.
Apps that log IP addresses may use the data for advertising or government surveillance purposes, which can compromise the user’s privacy and security.
App Uses Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security that involves using a password and another form of authentication, such as a fingerprint, facial recognition, or a verification code sent to a user’s phone or email.
A secure messaging app should use 2FA to prevent unauthorized access to the user’s account. This ensures that even if a hacker gains access to the user’s password, they won’t be able to access the account without the second form of authentication.
Does Not Back Up to iCloud
While iCloud is great for backing up important data, it’s not the best option for messages. If your chats are backed up to iCloud, they are vulnerable to being accessed by anyone who has access to your iCloud account.
So, look for an app that stores your chats locally on your device or encrypts your messages before backing them up to the cloud.
Options for Safe File Sharing
The app should have features that allow you to share files securely, without compromising the security of your messages. Ideally, the app should encrypt the files you share, and give you control over who can access those files with added security features.
Top 5 Secure Messaging Apps
If you’re looking for a secure messaging service, you probably already know that you have lots of options to choose from.
From Wire to Wickr Me, iMessage to Viber to Facebook Messenger and everything in between, there are a lot of instant messaging platform options out there – but not all of them offer the same level of protection against hackers.
Here are our top five favorite chat apps to consider in your hunt for the best encrypted messaging app for your needs.
1. Signal
Signal is widely considered the gold standard of secure messaging apps. It offers end-to-end encryption, meaning that only the sender and the receiver can read the messages. Signal also has no ads, no trackers, and collects very minimal data, making it an excellent option for anyone looking for complete privacy.
Not only that, but Signal is open-source, which means that anyone can examine its source code to ensure that it’s safe and secure.
2. Telegram
Telegram is a popular messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption for both one-on-one and group chats.
What sets Telegram apart is its ability to link your phone number to your account to send fast messages over the internet. Telegram also has a “Secret Chat” feature that offers an added layer of security and self-destructs messages after a specified time.
3. Threema
Threema is another one of the best secure messaging apps. It offers end-to-end encryption for texts, voice calls, and file transfers.
Unlike some messaging apps, Threema doesn’t require users to provide their phone numbers or any other personal information, making it a great option for anyone who values anonymity.
4. WhatsApp
While WhatsApp has faced some backlash over privacy concerns in the past, it still remains one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide. It offers end-to-end encryption and has recently added the ability to use stickers in conversations.
WhatsApp also has a “Disappearing Messages” feature that automatically deletes messages after seven days, ensuring that your conversations are kept private and secure.
5. Sekur
Hosted in Switzerland, Sekur is, hands down, the best private messaging app for just about anyone interested in secret chats.
It’s a great option for both iPhone and Android users and allows you to make voice calls, send text messages, and much more – all while avoiding potential risks and hacks.
The Takeaway
Choosing a secure messaging app can be overwhelming, but it’s important to prioritize your privacy and security. Look for apps with multi-platform capabilities, clearly communicated encryption protocols, no data or metadata storage, no logging of IP addresses, and 2FA.
Remember, Sekur is one of the best options if you’re looking for a secure messaging app that can do it all. Its cost-effective pricing makes it a top pick no matter who you are. If you’re concerned about the privacy of your digital communications, take the next step today – and switch to Sekur.
