WhatsApp has sparked much controversy in recent days after announcing an update of its privacy policy, which required the user to accept the new terms that appear to him while using the app no later than February 8, 2021 or delete his account.
The new WhatsApp policy gave more freedom to integrate with other Facebook apps, and allowed users to communicate with companies easily, which also means that the app will collect a lot of your data and share it with Facebook.
The change has worried some users, who have begun to look for other alternatives, and Telegram and Signal signal were the leading contenders in the WhatsApp replacement race.
However, WhatsApp soon announced that the date when users will be asked to review the terms of service and privacy policy and accept it for three months, and will not suspend or delete anyone's account on February 8, after much controversy about recent updates and raising concerns among users.
The company was also keen to clarify some of the principles and established facts in WhatsApp for users, which came as follows:
- WhatsApp's design is based on a very simple idea: what you share with your friends and family via the app remains limited to you and the person you share with.
- WhatsApp maintains the privacy of its users because personal conversations are encrypted through the full encryption feature between the two parties, and even if WhatsApp or Facebook can't see these private messages.
- The new updates include additional options for people who send business esthesy through WhatsApp, to enhance transparency in how WhatsApp collects and uses data.
There is no doubt that any application has features and disadvantages, and no app yet everyone agrees on, but did you know that WhatsApp is safer than Telegram, despite all the controversy that is currently being raised about it!
Why is WhatsApp safer than Telegram?
Telegram is the biggest competitor to WhatsApp for years even before the recent controversy over WhatsApp's update to its privacy policy, with Telegram , which has increased its number of users over the past few days and exceeded 500 million monthly users, offering many unique features that make it a stronger alternative to WhatsApp.
But the worst thing about Telegram that many don't know is that the app relies on server-client encryption in private conversations and group conversations, and uses the (end-to-end encryption) feature in secret conversations only.
This means that everything you send in private conversations and group conversations — whether text, photos, videos, or files — can be accessed by anyone who has access to Telegram's servers at any time.
All of the above means that if telegram is hacked at any time — and this is a very good thing — all this data will be in the hands of hackers, while this is impossible in WhatsApp that provides a virtual end-to-end encryption setting for all users with more than 2 billion users at this time, so WhatsApp is the most widely used encrypted instant messaging app in the world.
In addition, if we look at Telegram's privacy policy, it requires your phone number to create an account, as it reaches your contacts when you register, your username, and your account photo. Optionally, if you want to use the binary authentication feature using e-mail, the company will collect that data. However, the company claims that the data it collects is not used in advertising.
The Telegram app also collects your device's basic data and IP addresses. The only way to ensure that no one reads your conversations is by using telegram's secret chat feature.
Yes, Facebook's focus on data collection and processing is contrary to the principles of secure and private messaging. It's also clear that WhatsApp now focuses on commercial services, shopping and payments, but at least we can confirm that WhatsApp security is good, so don't stop using it until you're absolutely sure you want to go to another app, with the best alternative that will clearly handle your data.
Signal is so far the best alternative for WhatsApp and Telegram thanks to its privacy protection features, but security experts also point out that the non-profit status of the app developer raises a lot of questions at a time when data collection has become the most important thing for companies in any sector, large or small.
Accordingly, it's hard to find an app that everyone agrees with, but there's a rule you should follow with any app you use in your phone, which is to check the settings, try to adjust those settings that help you protect your privacy, and minimize the permissions you have for any app.
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