Privacy: which apps do better than WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is not in sanctity for users who are concerned about the use of their data. Even less sinceFacebook's announcementconcerning the bridge which will soon be set up between WhatsApp and Facebook and which will allow user data to be transferred from the first to the second. The icing on the cake is that the WhatsApp user will not have a say if they refuse,impossible for him to continue using the messaging app.

So now is the time, even more so if you were still hesitant until now, to flee WhatsApp and look elsewhere. Other solutions that are more respectful of our private data exist. The names Telegram and Signal are often mentioned in this context. These are precisely the major, best-known alternatives.

So here is acomparison between these and WhatsApp, firstly in terms of functionalities, then security and collection of user data. Note that we are talking about cross-platform applications here. Apple Messages is a possible solution, but only limited to Apple products for the moment.

See also:How to delete your WhatsApp account from iPhone?

Features

Here are some of the major features of WhatsApp:

voice and video calls possible: from 2 to 33 people
message exchange: up to 256 members per discussion group
multiple sending: it is possible to send the same message to several recipients at once
stories: everyone can add a status to their profile, like the Instagram stories function
documents: up to 16 MB maximum per photo, video or audio and 100 MB maximum per other document
position: easy sharing of your geolocated position
backup: backup of your account on iCloud or Google Drive
platforms: iOS and Android, with a web app version available on Windows and macOS
free: sharing data with Facebook for reselling information to third parties for advertising purposes

For Telegram, note the following features:

voice and video calls possible: up to 30 people
exchange of messages: up to 200,000 members per discussion group
special functions for groups: robots, polls, quizzes, hashtags, voice messages, noise suppression, etc.
other notable features: camera sharing, screen sharing
auto-deletion of messages: an option allows you to send a message with a limited duration, which is no longer visible to the recipient after a certain time
documents: 1.5 GB maximum per shared document
platforms: iOS and Android, but also Windows, macOS and Linux
free: monetization planned in the future, via premium offers and advertisements for public groups. The app would remain free in basic version and without advertisements in private groups

Signal

And finally for Signal:

voice and video calls possible: up to 40 people
message exchange: up to 1,000 members per discussion group
self-deletion of messages
personal notes: a function allows you to easily send yourself messages, like notes, invisible to the eyes of other participants in a discussion
documents: 100 MB maximum per shared document
hidden voice calls: to hide your identity by calling a contact
platforms: iOS and Android, but also Windows, macOS and Linux
free: without advertising and without data resales. The service is developed by a non-profit association, the Signal Foundation

Security

end-to-end encryption: for messages and calls, but also photos, videos and other shared documents
protocol used: E2E developed by Open Whisper Systems also at work behind Signal. The protocol is open source
backup of your account: local or on the cloud, but not encrypted
metadata: are not encrypted. The authorities can therefore know the date of the exchanges, as well as the identity of the participants in a conversation.

end-to-end encryption: not active by default, only via the secret chat function. Not available for group chats or from the Windows app
protocol used: Telegram remains tight-lipped about this, but has stated that the encryption uses a complex key and that access to Telegram data by any authority based on legal request would be extremely difficult
backup of your account: on a private cloud announced to be more secure than iCloud and Google Drive according to Telegram developers

Signal

end-to-end encryption: automatically active for all exchanges, voice, text, video and documents
metadata: encrypted. Impossible for anyone, including Signal, to know who used the service and on what date/time
account backup: encrypted
other security features: invisible mode for the keyboard which prevents keyboard apps from saving what is written, pin code to secure your account, and screenshot blocking function to prevent the person you are chatting with from capture the conversation screen

Data collected

Here is the data collected by the applications according to their App Store profile and privacy labelsintroduced by Apple at the end of 2020:

device ID
user id
usage data
purchase history
emplacement
phone number
e-mail address
contacts
interaction with the product
fault data
performance data
other diagnostic data
other user content
purchase history
payment information
assistance client
interaction with the product

nom
phone number
contacts
user id

Signal

phone number

We can clearly see that Signal is the safest alternative for user data. This is precisely why she is still advised by Edward Snowden.

Find these applications on the App Store:

See also the following applications to go even further:

i-nfo.fr - Official iPhon.fr app

By : Keleops AG

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.