WhatsApp is the largest messaging app in the world with 2 billion active users per month. The Telegram just behind it has 400 million people. For the signal, the number of active users per month is 10 to 20 million. WhatsApp is very popular but now the new update in terms of the privacy policy is a bit rough. The signal, which was not even considered a rival, has now joined the million download race. So let's see which is better than the number of users. Here is a comprehensive comparison of the security and features of the three applications.
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Creator: Dado Ruvic | Credit: REUTERS
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WhatsApp Features:WhatsApp offers all the features you may need. Supports group chats with up to 256 members. Messages can be broadcast to multiple contacts at the same time. It supports voice and video calls for individuals and groups. However, for group video calls, it is limited to 8 users. Additionally, WhatsApp offers a status feature (also known as WhatsApp Stories) similar to Instagram Stories.
WhatsApp allows you to share all kinds of files and documents, but it has file size limits. The limit for photos, videos, and audio files is 16 MB. But the document can be up to 100 MB. You can also share live location with your contacts. Since WhatsApp is intended for regular users, it restores uninterrupted backup and functionality through cloud services such as Google Drive and iCloud. The biggest thing is that cloud backup is completely free.
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| Source: Telegram |
Telegram ...
The Telegram app also offers a number of features. Similar to WhatsApp, you get the basics like chats, group chats, and channels. However, in contrast to WhatsApp's 256 member limit, Telegram supports groups of up to 200,000 members. It offers bots, polls, quizzes, hashtags, and many more group features that make group experiences more fun.
It also allows for auto-deleting messages like Snapchat. The size limit for sharing files in Telegram is 1.5 GB. The app now has voice and video call support on Android and iOS devices.
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| Source: Signal |
Signal
The signal offers its users secure messaging, voice and video calls, and all communications are encrypted. Additionally, you can create groups, but you do not have the option to broadcast messages to multiple contacts at once. Additionally, there is an option for group calling. It has a feature similar to Telegram's self-deleting messages. The best feature of the signal is the note to self ('self note'). Unlike WhatsApp, you do not have to create a single-member group to send notes. At the signal, the feature is available natively, and you can explain your thoughts and ideas while texting your friends and family.
Additionally, the signal allows you to relay voice calls to its servers so that your identity is hidden from your contacts. This is similar to doing a VPN. There are emojis and some privacy stickers, but they are very limited compared to WhatsApp and Telegram.
Assessing the security provided by these apps ...
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| Source: Whatsapp |
WhatsApp ...
End-to-end encryption (E2E) introduced in WhatsApp in 2016 is available in every mode of communication. So all your messages, video calls, voice calls, photos, and anything else you share are encrypted from end to end. WhatsApp uses the E2E protocol developed by OpenWhisper Systems, the name behind Signal Messenger. That's a good thing because the signal protocol is open source and is widely reviewed. It is also considered one of the best protocols for implementing end-to-end encryption on messaging platforms.
However, WhatsApp backups are not encrypted (cloud or local). Additionally, it does not encrypt the metadata used to communicate between two points. This is one of the main criticisms of WhatsApp's security model. While metadata does not allow anyone to read your messages, it does allow authorities to identify who you are, when you sent the message, and for how long.
Overall, WhatsApp pays more attention to ensuring security for its users. Meanwhile, WhatsApp has encountered two major privacy issues, particularly when group chats came up on Google search. Now that problem is solved.
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| Source: Telegram |
Telegram
Telegram provides some protection to its users. While Telegram supports encryption, it is not always enabled. The only way to use encryption in Telegram is with its secret chat feature. However, Telegram also handles its message decryption keys. The company says it has shared data with third parties and governments. Telegram groups are not encrypted. This is because secret chats only support the communication of one person. Also, Telegram's desktop client does not support encryption on any platform except MacOS.
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| Source: Signal |
Signal
The signal is best when it comes to security, whether it is in the back end or in the user interview of the service. Signal uses the open-source signal protocol to perform end-to-end encryption. Like WhatsApp, E2E encryption includes all types of communication on the signal.
The signal goes one step further than the others and encrypts your metadata as well. To protect user privacy from all angles, Signal has developed a new way of communicating between sender and recipient, called a seal sender. Basically, with the seal sender, even the signal does not know who is sending the message, which ensures ultimate privacy. The signal encrypts all local files with a 4-digit passphrase. If you want to create an encrypted local backup you can do that too. The application now also supports encrypted group calls.
In terms of security and privacy protection, Signal ranks above WhatsApp and Telegram, making it the safest messaging app between the three.
What data does each application collect?
Below is a list of data that all three apps collect from their users:
Signal
Nothing
(Personal data signal stores only your phone number) ...
Telegram
Contact Info
Contacts
User ID
WhatsApp
Phone ID
User ID
Advertising data
History
Location
Phone number
This mail address
Contacts
Crash data
Product interaction
Other diagnostic data
Payment Info
Customer support
Other user content
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