The Worst Messaging Apps That Are Compromising Your Privacy, According To Tech Experts

There’s no getting around the fact that messaging apps have become one of the most popular ways many of us communicate with others. If you stop and think about how many messages you have sent over the years — not to mention the content of those messages, some of which may be sensitive — you may recoil in horror at the thought of those messaging falling into the wrong hands. Even something as innocent as a work exchange deserves to be kept 100 percent secure, private, and kept between two people are among a group. 

But that isn’t always the case with all messaging apps. In fact, some have been found to collect personal information and even share data with advertisers. If you use messaging apps on a regular basis, you need to know the worst messaging apps that could be compromising your privacy.

Encryption is a hot topic when it comes to messaging apps — and an app that lacks it could put you more at risk. An app that lacks end-to-end encryption has to go from you to the company’s server prior to being sent to your recipient. This third party then obviously has your message and anyone with access to the server can intercept it or manipulate some of the data for their own uses (such as selling your location to advertisers). 

An app that features end-to-end encryption instead encrypts your messages before they are sent to the server and then they are only decrypted once they reach your recipient. In turn, anyone with access to that server won’t be able to decipher them. 

“The worst messaging apps for privacy are those that lack end-to-end encryption, collect extensive user data, and have a history of data breaches or poor security practices,” says Tech Expert Muhammad Yasir at Write Sonic.

Two examples that Muhammad says come to mind are: 

Kik: “Kik has been criticized for its lack of end-to-end encryption and its vulnerability to hackers and scammers,” Muhammad shares. “It has also been linked to cases of cyberbullying and child exploitation, raising concerns about user safety and privacy.”

Snapchat: Although Snapchat messages disappear after being viewed, the app stores metadata about the messages and has suffered from security breaches in the past, Muhammad stresses. It also doesn’t provide end-to-end encryption, leaving messages potentially vulnerable to interception.

Another app to be cautious of is Whisper, which has been flagged for collecting personal information sharing location data with advertisers.

Messaging apps that offer end-to-end encryption are always your safer bet. Two that Muhammad recommends include: 

Signal: “Signal is a highly secure messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that messages can only be read by the intended recipients,” he says. “It has a strong focus on privacy and minimal data collection.”

WhatsApp: “While owned by Facebook, WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect user messages,” Muhammad says. “Although it does collect some metadata, it remains a more secure option compared to many other messaging apps.”

The next time you’re about to send a private message, think of the “E” word — encryption — and whether the app in question offers this level of protection.