Signal is the overall winner for both iOS and Android users. Signal created an encryption protocol that is now recognized as the most secure messaging app protocol out there. It offers everything most users need – SMS, video and voice calls, group chats, file sharing, disappearing messages, etc.
We consider Signal the gold standard for secure messaging apps, and it's easy to see why. All of your messages are secured with E2EE and Signal is a nonprofit, so there's no reason to harvest any user data. The underlying technology of Signal is so successful it has been implemented by Google and Meta.
WhatsApp is far more private and secure than iMessage, with end-to-end encryption that works across both iPhones and Android, including group chats. With WhatsApp you can also set all new chats to disappear with the tap of a button. And last year we introduced end-to-end encrypted backups too.
Generally, WhatsApp is secure comprehensively when it comes to messages and chats. However, the WhatsApp chats backup is not end-to-end encrypted by default, unlike the messages. Therefore, the backup of your WhatsApp messages on iCloud or Google Drive is vulnerable to attacks from hackers.
If the police have a warrant, they can request your messages from social media companies like Snapchat and WhatsApp, but generally the police will only be able to see your unread messages.
Signal is the overall winner for both iOS and Android users. Signal created an encryption protocol that is now recognized as the most secure messaging app protocol out there.
You can use Threema anonymously and protect private conversations with a PIN, which makes it one of the top non-traceable text message apps.
According to the latest data, WhatsApp Messenger is the most popular messaging app downloaded on the Google Play Store in the USA. This is no surprise, considering it's the most used messaging app globally, with two billion users. After WhatsApp, the second-most used chat app in the USA is Snapchat.
Advantages to SMS
SMS messages are short and sweet. Because of the 160 character limit, they don't require a lot of time or energy. SMS messages are cheaper to send than MMS messages. Most carriers in the U.S. offer plans with unlimited texting, so there is likely no cost to your subscribers.
Unlike most messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Signal, Facebook Messenger does not support end-to-end encryption. This means that your messages could be intercepted because they aren't secure.
Unlike SMS messaging, iMessage and other chatting apps have several security and privacy features that can prevent users' data from falling into the wrong hands.
WhatsApp has long touted its use of end-to-end encryption, which means only the sender and recipient of a message can see its contents. While several other competitors including iMessage and Signal also offer end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp is by far the biggest in terms of user base.
Google Messages Should Be the Default on All Android Phones
Both Google Messages and Samsung Messages are good apps; although the latter does have a few unique features, the former is the clear winner. Not just because of its features, but also because it's easier to establish as a universal messaging solution.
Few people know, however, that phones can be tracked using little more than a text message. A Short Message Type 0, also known as a silent SMS, is used for the purpose, and these have been around for years.
Can Texting Apps Be Traced By Police? Yes, police can trace phone numbers from anonymous texting apps like TextFree, and TextNow, back to an individual through a court order.
Yes, it's definitely possible for someone to spy on your text messages and it's certainly something you should be aware of – this is a potential way for a hacker to gain a lot of private information about you – including accessing PIN codes sent by websites used to verify your identity (such as online banking).
With control of your phone number, the hacker not only can receive messages on your behalf — but also send messages, make calls, and access your accounts.
So to answer the question, “Can someone hack my phone by texting me?” No, your phone cannot be hacked by anyone just by receiving or opening the message. If you further follow the instructions of the text and click on the malicious link, then hacking might happen.
Your privacy is our priority. With end-to-end encryption, you can be sure that your personal messages stay between you and who you send them to.
Install and open WhatsApp, then verify your number. Tap RESTORE when prompted to restore your chats and media from Google Drive. After the restoration process is complete, tap NEXT. Your chats will be displayed once initialization is complete.
We do not retain data for law enforcement purposes unless we receive a valid preservation request before a user has deleted that content from our service. In the ordinary course of providing our service, WhatsApp does not store messages once they are delivered or transaction logs of such delivered messages.
WhatsApp encryption
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect all communication on its platform. These encryption keys not only make it impossible to decrypt messages, but they also prevent third parties and even WhatsApp from accessing messages or calls.
Some 80 percent of respondents answered the question "Which instant messenger or video call services do you use regularly?" with "Facebook Messenger".