Rating of the most protected popular instant messengers

Instant messaging is a more convenient way of transmitting information than e-mail, and safer than SMS text messages - if you have the correct application installed.

Experts of the international human rights organization Amnesty International analyzed the encryption systems of the most popular instant messengers and compiled a rating on the security of instant messaging services. Earlier a similar list was published by the analytical center FalconGaze, but in its ranking the seats were distributed differently( see below).

10. Blackberry

Thisinstant messaging is used by 100 million users, and it offers end-to-end encryption only as part of a paid subscription to the service. The end-to-end system involves the transfer of encrypted information from the device to the device, not through intermediaries, but directly. So full confidentiality of correspondence remains.

9. Snapchat

It is used by more than 100 million people every day. Despite the fact that the creators of Snapchat promote privacy, in practice, the service does not have enough options to protect the privacy of its users. It does not support end-to-end encryption.

8. Skype

Microsoft owns Skype( an audience of 300 million people per month) since 2011, and Skype in turn is the main target of government oversight around the world. Despite the fact that Microsoft respects the privacy rights of users in words, it does not use the end-to-end encryption system.

7. Kakao

South Korean company Daum Kakao owns KakaoTalk, a mobile application with 49 million active users a month. The South Korean government, through a spyware program, monitored and controlled citizens through the application. Subsequently, the company took measures to improve its level of encryption, but does not apply end-to-end encryption as standard.

6. Viber Media

Application for messaging with 700 million registered users. By default, there is end-to-end encryption. But the company does not disclose full information about how it performs encryption. Viber is considered one of the most popular instant messengers.

5. Line

Mobile messaging service with over 200 million active users daily. Most of them are residents of Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan. There is end-to-end encryption without any additional subscriptions. However, the company does not inform its users of all possible network threats, and does not publish transparency reports.

4. Google

Google Apps has the following messaging applications: Allo, Duo, and Hangouts. In Duo there is end-to-end encryption standard, in Allo it is only at will, but in Hangouts it is not at all. Google takes a public position against backdoor encryption, which allows you to unlock devices or applications and give governments access to personal data of citizens.

3. Telegram

Opens the top 3 most secure instant messaging application for messaging with 100 million active users. This brand takes an unswerving position to protect the integrity of confidential data and the freedom of expression of users. Therefore, it is surprising that Telegram does not use end-to-end encryption by default.

2. Apple

iMessage and Facetime applications provide end-to-end encryption as a standard option. Apple, like Google, has publicly taken a position against "backdoors" in encryption and reports on government requests for data. However, the corporation must do more to notify users within the applications themselves when their messages are protected by end-to-end encryption, and when not( for example, when sending a message to an iPhone other than).

1. Facebook

Top the top 10 security instant messengers Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Together they have 2 billion users, are the most secure and transparent in their actions messengers. WhatsApp is the only application whose users are explicitly warned when end-to-end encryption is not applied in a particular chat. However, Messenger does not use end-to-end encryption a priori, and users are not warned that a weak form of encryption is used in the chat.