Application security is no longer an option. It is an absolute necessity.
Users hate it when ads pop in every ten minutes. They won’t think twice before deleting the suspicious app from their phones.
So as the entire world celebrates the boom of the digital arena, there is one setback everybody has to suffer. And that is the invasion of privacy.
According to Veracode’s State of Software Security Report, 77 percent of web applications have at least one security vulnerability.
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Chat Apps – The Crucial Category
Besides the generic urgency to secure apps, messaging apps are the ones that need it the most. They must have an algorithm to better protect users in an internet world where marketing companies are increasingly trying not just to track users but also to read their messages.
Along with this, there is a possibility of hackers’ attack on the company server. It happens when private messaging apps save copies of chat sessions on their server.
Ideally, a messaging application should secure the data in the following ways:
- Ask for fewer sensitive information
- Integrate technical solutions for safe data transfer
- Implement end-to-end encryption and reinforce encryption
6 best apps in marketplace right now
Just running a search for terms like “chat app” or “message app” inside the Play Store or Apple Store will serve you with hundreds of different options. Yet, the determination of the most reliable application is not as simple as it sounds.
We have rounded up a list of six secure and fun-filled chat apps to ease your struggle.
Let’s take a look:
1. Whatsapp
Since 2016, Whatsapp has been providing the most reliable and versatile medium to billions of users across the globe.
Its robust encryption technology makes sure that only the sender and receiver can read the message. Imposters and malicious actors can’t penetrate the system. And even if they do, the algorithm makes sure they can’t decrypt the code.
The app also allows users to send messages, voice notes, location sharing, videos, GIFs, group calls, etc. The interface is user-friendly and straightforward. This is the reason why 1.5 billion people are using Whatsapp. There is a good chance that your business associates and friends already have it installed on their devices.
Other exclusive features you can avail in this app are:
- Create a shortcut to a conversation with a specific group or person
- Create a broadcast list and send the same message to 256 people simultaneously
- Mute a chat for eight hours or even a year
It allows small and medium-sized business personnel to create a business account. They can have professional communication with customers and demonstrate their products/services. It is a must-have application, alongside other apps that you use to manage your team.
2. Facebook Messenger
Facebook recently passed over 2.5 billion monthly active users. Its Messenger is the second biggest messaging app, having 105 million users only in the United States. It works well for a one-to-one chat, and the color scheme wins over that of Whatsapp.
When you download the Messenger app, it asks for a bunch of permissions. You must read every point carefully and agree to the terms if they seem sound enough.
Sending files and photos on Messenger is quite easy. It offers a vast library of stickers and emoticons to spice up your chat. Also, it is not mandatory to be a Facebook user. Just download and create an account. On Android phones, there is a chat head for every ongoing conversation. This makes it easy to keep a tab on all messages.
3. Telegram
Telegram is the product by brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, exiled Russian-born billionaires, previously famous for the Facebook clone Vkontakte (now VK).
Telegram uses its unique set of protocols to connect people around the globe. It offers the best security system, abandoning the third-parties to peek into your chat.
When a user activates the “secret chat” function, it automatically discards the messages across all the devices involved. It deletes the messages, files, images, videos from your as well as the recipient’s devices. You can also enable an option to self-destruct your account after a specified period.
The app is free and has more than 200 million active users. It has a native app for most platforms. And perhaps this is the reason for its popularity.
4. Line
Japan-based Line is finally bringing end-to-end encryption to its mobile messaging service. It has more than 211 million users across the world. The company has a new security feature, known as “Letter-Sealing.” It allows for encryption on messages and features on this service.
The developers recently made a promising statement, ensuring its optimized security system. They claimed that with the advanced security system, it is technically impossible for the server or a third party to disclose chat content. When speaking of stealing data, the security level is quite similar to the one found in the AirG spam-free chat app, Hookt.
Apart from security, the app has a full pack of features, making it highly popular among youth. Some of its value-added features include:
- Line Games – you can play games with your friends
- Line Pay – you can send and receive money
- Line Taxi – you can hire a cab
- Line Today – you can check out the current news
Along with these, you can make your chats more fun through a wide array of stickers. Plus, it has a dedicated timeline where you can post updates and share posts for all contacts to view.
5. Signal Private Messenger
Whisper Systems created Signal. It is a successor of two separate apps designed exclusively for encrypted voice calling and texting. It uses advanced end-to-end encryption and secures all messages shared by other Signal users.
Despite its high-end security protocol, this app is quite simple. The best part is that it is an open-source application. Tech experts can freely examine the code and try to find the flaws within.
Recently, the co-founder of Whatsapp Brian Acton invested $50 million in this app. With this investment, he aims to support the non-profit Signal Foundation’s mission of “making private communication accessible and ubiquitous.”
Like every other chat application, Signal also has features, such as:
- Encrypted voice calls
- Media transfer
- Archive functionality
None of these features require login credentials or PIN codes.
Moreover, the messages have an in-built self-destruction feature, making it highly secure for the users. Indeed, it is an excellent app and worth a shot.
6. Dust
The brainchild of Mark Cuban, Cyber Dust App, aims to be “the most personal communication platform ever.” Now known as only Dust, this app uses end-to-end encryption for secure communication.
It resembles Snapchat in many aspects. You can erase messages from other people’s phones. Neither does it store messages or files on the phone. You can also set your conversations to delete immediately once the recipients have read them.
It has also disabled the possibility of taking screenshots. It notifies the sender if the recipient has taken a screenshot. Besides offering the secure algorithms, this app also lets you follow people, send and receive text messages, stickers, links, videos, and more.
Which app should you download?
Given the broad range of options, it is logical to get confused when looking for a secure chat app.
We recommend you to install an app where you are likely to find most of your friends, family, and coworkers. After all, what is the use of installing an app when you can’t find your circles to connect with?
In case they are using any other app, and we missed it, feel free to let us know!
Author Bio:
Andrea Bell is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter:@IM_AndreaBell
