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Signal app
Bleep Private Messaging App Cyber Security Data Privacy encrypted messaging apps End-to-End Encrypted Messaging Services Message encryption Signal app

Best Encrypted Messaging Apps: Signal vs Telegram vs WhatsApp Privacy Guide

 

Encrypted messaging apps have become essential tools in the age of cyber threats and surveillance. With rising concerns over data privacy, especially after recent high-profile incidents, users are turning to platforms that offer more secure communication. Among the top contenders are Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp—each with its own approach to privacy, encryption, and data handling. 

Signal is widely regarded as the gold standard when it comes to messaging privacy. Backed by a nonprofit foundation and funded through grants and donations, Signal doesn’t rely on user data for profit. It collects minimal information—just your phone number—and offers strong on-device privacy controls, like disappearing messages and call relays to mask IP addresses. Being open-source, Signal allows independent audits of its code, ensuring transparency. Even when subpoenaed, the app could only provide limited data like account creation date and last connection, making it a favorite among journalists, whistleblowers, and privacy advocates.  

Telegram offers a broader range of features but falls short on privacy. While it supports end-to-end encryption, this is limited only to its “secret chats,” and not enabled by default in regular messages or public channels. Telegram also stores metadata, such as IP addresses and contact info, and recently updated its privacy policy to allow data sharing with authorities under legal requests. Despite this, it remains popular for public content sharing and large group chats, thanks to its forum-like structure and optional paid features. 

WhatsApp, with over 2 billion users, is the most widely used encrypted messaging app. It employs the same encryption protocol as Signal, ensuring end-to-end protection for chats and calls. However, as a Meta-owned platform, it collects significant user data—including device information, usage logs, and location data. Even people not using WhatsApp can have their data collected via synced contacts. While messages remain encrypted, the amount of metadata stored makes it less privacy-friendly compared to Signal. 

All three apps offer some level of encrypted messaging, but Signal stands out for its minimal data collection, open-source transparency, and commitment to privacy. Telegram provides a flexible chat experience with weaker privacy controls, while WhatsApp delivers strong encryption within a data-heavy ecosystem. Choosing the best encrypted messaging app depends on what you prioritize more: security, features, or convenience.
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WhatsApp
End To End Encryption Government Database internet outage Message encryption Proxy Server User Privacy Vulnerabilities and Exploits. WhatsApp

WhatsApp Allows Communication Amid Internet Outages

On January 5, WhatsApp revealed a new feature that enables users to connect via proxy servers so they may continue using the service even when the internet is restricted or disrupted by shutdowns.

Concept of Whatsapp proxy 

When selecting a proxy, users can connect to WhatsApp via servers run by individuals and groups devoted to promoting free speech throughout the world. According to WhatsApp, using a proxy connection preserves the app's privacy and security settings, and end-to-end encryption will continue to secure private conversations. As per the firm, neither the proxy servers, WhatsApp, nor Meta will be able to see the communications that are sent between them.

When it comes to assisting users when WhatsApp is prohibited in a country, the messaging service stated, "If WhatsApp is restricted in your nation, you can utilize a proxy to connect and communicate with loved ones. End-to-end encryption will still be used to protect private communications while using a proxy connection to WhatsApp."

In accordance with the new rules, internet service providers had to remove anything that law enforcement regarded to be illegal and cooperate with police investigations, which included locating the authors of malicious materials.WhatsApp countered this claim by saying that it will continue to secure users' private messages and would not compromise their security for any government.

According to Juras Jurnas of the proxy and online data collecting company Oxylabs, "For persons with government restrictions on internet access, such as was the situation with Iran, utilization of a proxy server can help people keep a connection to WhatsApp as well as the rest of the public, internet free."

After activists in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while in police detention, the Iranian government restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp last year. The suspension of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution by the Indian Parliament resulted in a shutdown of the internet in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. This state-imposed lockdown was implemented as a precautionary measure. Only two districts, Ganderbal and Udampur, have 4G availability. After 552 days without internet or with slow internet, the former state was finally connected to 4G on February 6th, 2021.

The business stated it is working to ensure that internet shutdowns never occur and that individuals are not denied human rights or prevented from seeking immediate assistance as these scenarios arise in various locations throughout the world. 

Internet platforms had to comply with police investigations, including locating the authors of malicious information and destroying anything that authorities had determined to be illegal, according to the new legislation.WhatsApp countered that it would maintain the privacy of users' private messages and would not compromise its security for any government.






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WhatsApp
Message encryption Telegram Messenger User Data User Privacy User Security WhatsApp

WhatsApp, Telegram Data Stored on Phones is Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks



The data saved by users onto their devices through social messaging apps, Whatsapp and Telegram is vulnerable to cyber attacks and can be exploited by malware with access to external storage, as per the security researchers at Symantec.

End-to-end encryption prevents user data from being read or secretly modified, it led users into believing that their communication is highly secured and their conversations are protected against being accessed by third-party apps. However, the findings at Symantec have made users reconsider the whole idea of data protection via encryption.

The media exchanged on WhatsApp and Telegram gets stored in either of the two storages, external or internal. Now, if the data is stored in the victim's external storage and the malware enters his mobile device, it is configured to gain easy access to these saved files and exploit it subsequently. Moreover, the malware can acquire access to this data even prior to the users, according to The Verge.

After examining the issue, WhatsApp released statements telling that the corresponding updates are under progress with Android's ongoing development.

Referencing from the statements given by a WhatsApp spokesperson, “WhatsApp has looked closely at this issue and it’s similar to previous questions about mobile device storage impacting the app ecosystem. WhatsApp follows current best practices provided by operating systems for media storage and looks forward to providing updates in line with Android’s ongoing development,”

"WhatsApp follows guidelines from Android including: 'You should use external storage for user data that should be accessible to other apps and saved even if the user uninstalls your app, such as captured photos or downloaded files.' We store files in the same manner as other messaging apps (like Viber), email (like Gmail), and file storage apps (like Dropbox)," he added.

Commenting on the upcoming Android update, he informed, "The suggested changes here could both create privacy complications for our users and limit how photos and files could be shared."

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WhatsApp
Fingerprint Message encryption WhatsApp

Indian Government asks WhatsApp to fingerprint messages









The government of India has asked the instant messaging app WhatsApp to digitally fingerprint every message which is sent on its platform, to ensure traceability of all content. 

According to two senior government officials, WhatsApp should keep a track off a message, from where it originated, how many people read it and how many forwarded it. 

“Fingerprinting WhatsApp messages will help find the originator of the message. That is all we want,” the official said.

“We don’t want to read the messages but when we see a problematic message we should be able to go to WhatsApp to help us trace the sender,” the official further added. “They have to find a way, it is technically possible.”

After several public unrests over message forward, in December last year, the government of India has amended the Information Technology Act, which made traceability of messages compulsory for all internet platforms. 

"It is not acceptable that no one can trace any message. Somebody should be able to trace some messages sometimes. We have reached the limit of anonymity on the internet and that has to go," said official. 

However, WhatsApp declined to comment on the development.


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