Innovations have revolutionized communication. This is in the sense that what we have today is different from what we had millenniums ago. Following technological innovations, it has become easier for people to convey messages by use of gadgets like mobile phones and computers at their own convenience.
Various messaging mobile phone applications like Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Telegram have emerged over time trying to facilitate the same. However, an undeniable concern has arisen over the years as to how secure messaging is over these kinds of platforms with users worrying about the privacy of the kind of information they send and receive.
Concerns, whether a third party may be intercepting the information sent and received, have been raised. This has posed as a challenge to app developers on how they going to guarantee that their user’s information is private. When settling for a messaging app to ensure the conversations you need to consider the following discussed aspects.
The application fully supports an end to end encryption. What this basically means is that the two devices being used by the sender and the receiver possess a unique key that does the coding and decoding of the message. In the event a third party desires to retrieve the information, it becomes impossible as the interceptor lacks that unique key to decrypt.
Most apps have enabled this encryption with their newer versions. The photos, videos texts, and status shared have been secured against falling into the wrong hands with each message possessing its own unique key.
Account verification. When creating accounts and during registration, these messaging applications prompt the user to verify accounts. Unfortunately for users, sometimes they end up losing their gadgets to theft and this may create avenues for information to be compromised. Some apps have a two-step verification code policy that guarantees a unique user set code to verify account in case suspicion arises over the account.
Recovery options. This is basically the concern on how safe and private a user’s information will be when there is trouble logging in. Some applications follow very secure authentication channels that minimize the risk of compromise. Security questions together with email and mobile phone verifications make recovery easier for the rightful owner of the information and a literally uphill task for a third party. So before you download that application, does it meet all these security needs?