We send hundreds of messages daily - personal, work-related, financial. Which messenger should you trust with this information? Let’s analyze the key security aspects of popular applications.
What Is End-to-End Encryption
E2E Principle
End-to-end encryption (E2E) means the message is encrypted on your device and decrypted only on the recipient’s device:
You Server Recipient
[Message] → [Encrypted] → [Decrypted]
Key with you Cannot read Key with them
Nobody in between - not the messenger’s server, not your ISP, not hackers - can read the content.
Without E2E
If there’s no encryption or only server-side encryption:
You Server Recipient
[Message] → [Reads everything] → [Message]
The server sees all messages. If it’s hacked or accessed by request - your conversation is compromised.
Messenger Comparison
Signal
Encryption: E2E by default for all chats and calls.
Protocol: Signal Protocol - the gold standard of cryptography, used by other messengers too.
| Aspect | Rating |
|---|---|
| Message encryption | ★★★★★ |
| Call encryption | ★★★★★ |
| Minimal metadata | ★★★★★ |
| Convenience | ★★★★☆ |
| Popularity | ★★☆☆☆ |
Pros:
- Minimal data collection (only phone number)
- Open source code
- Non-profit organization
- Disappearing messages
- Screen protection from screenshots
Cons:
- Fewer users than competitors
- Phone number required for registration
- No cloud backup (this is both pro and con)
Recommendation: Best choice for confidential conversations.
Telegram
Encryption: E2E only in “secret chats”. Regular chats - server-side encryption only.
Protocol: MTProto - proprietary protocol, criticized by cryptographers for non-standard solutions.
| Aspect | Rating |
|---|---|
| Encryption (secret chats) | ★★★★☆ |
| Encryption (regular chats) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Minimal metadata | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Convenience | ★★★★★ |
| Popularity | ★★★★★ |
Pros:
- Large groups and channels
- Bots and mini-apps
- Fast sync between devices
- Large file transfers
- Username-based (no phone number needed)
Cons:
- E2E must be enabled manually for each chat
- Secret chats don’t sync between devices
- Collects metadata
- Closed server code
Recommendation: Convenient for public channels and groups, but for private conversations - enable secret chats.
Encryption: E2E by default (based on Signal Protocol).
Owner: Meta (Facebook) - this affects data policy.
| Aspect | Rating |
|---|---|
| Message encryption | ★★★★★ |
| Call encryption | ★★★★★ |
| Minimal metadata | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Convenience | ★★★★★ |
| Popularity | ★★★★★ |
Pros:
- E2E by default
- Billions of users
- Simple interface
- Status and stories
- Business features
Cons:
- Collects metadata (who, when, how often)
- Shares data with Meta
- Closed source code
- Cloud backups not E2E encrypted by default
Recommendation: Good for connecting with those who don’t use Signal, but remember about metadata.
iMessage
Encryption: E2E between Apple devices.
| Aspect | Rating |
|---|---|
| Encryption (Apple↔Apple) | ★★★★★ |
| Encryption (with Android) | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
| Minimal metadata | ★★★☆☆ |
| Convenience | ★★★★★ |
| Ecosystem | Apple only |
Pros:
- smooth iOS/macOS integration
- iCloud backup with E2E (Advanced Data Protection)
- No ads
Cons:
- Works only between Apple devices
- Messages to Android - regular SMS (no encryption)
- Closed source
Comparison Table
| Messenger | E2E by default | Code | Metadata | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signal | Yes | Open | Minimal | For privacy |
| Telegram | No (manual) | Partial | Lots | For convenience |
| Yes | Closed | Lots | For reach | |
| iMessage | Yes (Apple) | Closed | Medium | For Apple ecosystem |
What Is Metadata
Why It Matters More Than Content
Metadata is “data about data”:
- Who you communicate with
- When and how often
- How long the conversation lasted
- Where you were located
- What device you used
Example: Even without reading messages, one can learn:
- You called an oncologist at 3 AM
- Then called relatives
- Then searched for will information
Content is encrypted, but metadata told the story.
Who Collects Metadata
| Messenger | What it collects |
|---|---|
| Signal | Only registration date and last connection |
| Telegram | Contacts, IP, devices, geolocation |
| Contacts, devices, communication frequency, geolocation |
Security Settings
Signal
- Disappearing messages: Settings → Privacy → Disappearing messages → Choose time
- Screen lock: Settings → Privacy → Screen lock
- Hide previews: Settings → Privacy → Show previews → Off
- Verify keys: In chat → Security settings → Verify safety number
Telegram
- Secret chat: Contact profile → ⋮ → Start secret chat
- Two-factor authentication: Settings → Privacy → Two-step verification
- Auto-delete: Settings → Privacy → Auto-delete messages
- Hide phone: Settings → Privacy → Phone number → Nobody
- Encrypted backup: Settings → Chats → Chat backup → E2E encrypted
- Disappearing messages: Settings → Privacy → Disappearing messages
- Fingerprint lock: Settings → Privacy → Fingerprint lock
- Two-step verification: Settings → Account → Two-step verification
VPN and Messengers
Why You Need VPN
VPN complements messenger protection:
| What messenger protects | What VPN protects |
|---|---|
| Message content | IP address and location |
| - | The fact you’re using the messenger |
| - | Traffic from ISP |
Scenario: You’re in a cafe, connecting to WiFi. Without VPN, the network admin sees you’re using Telegram. With VPN - they see only encrypted traffic.
When VPN Is Critical
- Public WiFi networks
- Corporate networks with monitoring
- Countries with messenger restrictions
- When hiding messenger usage matters
Secure Practices
Basic Rules
- Verify contacts: messenger phishing is growing
- Don’t click links: even from friends (account could be compromised)
- Enable 2FA: on all messengers
- Don’t store sensitive data: even in secure chats
- Update apps: vulnerabilities are fixed in patches
What Not to Send
Even in E2E chats:
- Passwords and bank card details
- Document scans (passport, license)
- Medical records
- Compromising content
Why: Recipient’s device could be compromised, screenshots are possible, conversation might end up in cloud backup.
Alternative Messengers
For Maximum Privacy
| Messenger | Features |
|---|---|
| Session | No phone number, decentralized |
| Briar | P2P, works through Tor, Bluetooth without internet |
| Wickr | Auto-delete, anonymous registration |
| Element (Matrix) | Federated protocol, open source |
For Business
| Messenger | Features |
|---|---|
| Slack | Integrations, but no E2E |
| Microsoft Teams | Corporate, partial E2E |
| Wire | E2E by default, business features |
Security Checklist
Basic Level
- 2FA enabled on all messengers
- App lock enabled
- Auto-delete old messages configured
- Lock screen message previews disabled
Advanced Level
- Signal for important conversations
- Secret chats in Telegram
- E2E backups in WhatsApp
- VPN on public networks
Paranoid Level
- Session or Briar for anonymity
- Separate phone for sensitive communications
- Regular encryption key verification
- 24-hour auto-delete
Summary
There’s no perfect messenger - each balances privacy, convenience, and reach.
Recommendation:
- Signal for important conversations
- Telegram for convenience (with secret chats for private)
- WhatsApp for connecting with those who have nothing else
Combined with VPN, you protect both conversation content and the fact of messenger usage.
Tainet protects your traffic on public networks, while a properly configured messenger protects conversation content. Together - full communication security.
