In one of our previous blog posts, we discussed the two most popular instant messaging services out there and here in WhatsApp vs Telegram security features, we continue in the same manner. More specifically, here we examine WhatsApp vs Telegram security and privacy features so that by the end of this article, you know how these services work, which privacy and security measures they employ, and finally which one is slightly better than the other one when it comes to protecting your personal information.
Online privacy is something that we rely on every single day whenever we use our devices connected to the internet to communicate online. We also rely on online privacy and security when browsing the internet, when shopping online, when watching YouTube, or watching television shows on Netflix. Whenever you are online, there are certain online privacy and security measures in place which protect your personal, confidential data to some degree.
This also applies when using popular instant messaging apps and services out there. While there are many different options at our disposal, not every instant messaging app or service works the same or uses the same protective measures. WhatsApp and Telegram are among the most popular instant messaging apps out there, but what about their security measures? Which one is better? Further in this WhatsApp vs Telegram security article, we explore both services’ security features so you can decide which one works better for you.
WhatsApp vs Telegram Security – WhatsApp Features
With over two billion users, WhatsApp remains the most popular, the most used instant messaging app out there and it surely has great features. Even though WhatsApp is available worldwide, there are some countries where the service cannot be used. If you reside in one of those countries, you probably do not know much about this Facebook Inc. app.
Before WhatsApp was sold to Facebook Inc., it was launched by WhatsApp in 2009. WhatsApp is a creation of Jan Koum and Brian Acton, and it works across a wide range of devices including Android and iOS-powered mobile devices and tablets, as well as Windows-powered desktop computers. Just like other popular instant messaging services out there, once you get the WhatsApp app from the App Store or Google Play Store, you get to send text messages, share files, send voice messages, make calls, and even send encrypted messages which safely travel from your device to the recipients’ device.
In this WhatsApp vs Telegram security article, we focus on the services security and privacy measures, so let’s examine WhatsApp from this perspective. Back in 2016, WhatsApp implemented the best end-to-end encryption to ensure all users that their personal and confidential data shared using the service is always safe. End-to-end encryption is a great system of online communication thanks to which only those communicating users can access and view private messages.
End-to-end encryption technologies are used by many safe, great instant messaging services out there including WhatsApp and Telegram as well as Viber, LINE, and Wickr. Today, using these services is the most secure way to get in touch with your online friends living in different parts of the globe. This kind of technology lets you communicate online securely and privately as it encrypts private messages both on your part and on the recipient’s end.
Since WhatsApp uses this technology, your messages sent using the service cannot be accessed and viewed by anyone. In other words, with WhatsApp, nobody can go through your private communications unless it has the required key and the required key has only the person you send your messages to. The bottom line, WhatsApp is safe and secure to use at any time. To ensure that your WhatsApp calls and messages are encrypted:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your device
- Open one of your chats or conversations
- Look for the encryption indicator
- Make sure that end-to-end encryption protects your messages
Telegram and Its Security Features
Further in this WhatsApp vs Telegram security article, we explore Telegram Messenger, how it works, what features and offers, and whether is it safe to use or not. Launched by Telegram Messenger Inc. and Telegram FZ LLC in August of 2013, Telegram Messenger has a smaller user base of around 500 million as estimated in January of 2021.
When compared to two billion active WhatsApp users, this is significantly less but this does not mean that Telegram Messenger is not safe. Just like WhatsApp, Telegram Messenger can be used on a variety of devices including iOS and Android mobile devices as well as Windows-powered desktop devices. The service is empowered with the best end-to-end encryption just like WhatsApp so you can freely communicate online without being worried about your personal data being exposed.
The Telegram Messenger app actually features two different encryption layers. According to the official Telegram website, both group and private chats are empowered with server-to-client end-to-end encryption while enabling secret chats turns on the best client-to-client end-to-end encryption. What is even more, when turn on a Secret Chat option in Telegram Messenger, every data is encrypted or instant text messages, files, and media you share.
Telegram is empowered with 2048-bit RSA, Diffie–Hellman secure key exchange and military-grade 256-bit AES encryption. Thanks to these different encryption layers all working together, with Telegram Messenger, every message and call you make is one hundred percent protected from any intruder out there. At the same time, WhatsApp relies on E2EE and RSA encryption along with other systems encryption. To use end-to-end encryption in Telegram:
- Open the Telegram Messenger app on your device
- Click on the contact’s name and press the More tab
- Press on the Start Secret Chat button
- Confirm and start texting
WhatsApp Vs Telegram Security
While both WhatsApp and Telegram have their benefits, if you only care about privacy and security, Telegram Messenger is probably better as it uses more end-to-end encryption layers to boost your internet privacy. If you want to use an instant messaging app that has a greater user base and several unique features, then WhatsApp is for you. The bottom line, it comes down to what is more important to you.