Top 5 WhatsApp Alternatives in 2021 [Best For Privacy & Safety]

With more than 1 billion users in 180 countries, WhatsApp is the world’s favorite messaging app.

Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014 left privacy experts and security-conscious users concerned. After all, Facebook and its 3rd party apps were involved in multiple security breaches, resulting in thousands of users’ private information being leaked. However, WhatsApp have always insisted that they are a separate app, dedicated to creating and maintaining a secure messaging service.

That’s about to change. Facebook recently announced that they’re considering merging three separate messaging platforms. They plan to combine Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram‘s message functions, allowing users to message each other between the three networks.

A source confirmed that current plans would include rolling out end-to-end encryption across all three platforms. This would – in theory – make Facebook Messenger and Instagram as secure as WhatsApp. However, this could also make WhatsApp much less secure, bringing it in line with the other platforms’ standards.

WhatsApp’s Security Loopholes

WhatsApp promises end-to-end encryption – a great security feature. However, there are several loopholes that the company needs to address.

Its legal disclaimer states, “As part of the Facebook family of companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, this family of companies. We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings.”

“Facebook and the other companies in the Facebook family also may use information from us to improve your experiences within their services such as making product suggestions.”

“We do not retain our users’ messages in the ordinary course of providing our Services. We do, however, host our users’ account information, including our users’ profile picture, profile name, or status message, if they decide to include them as part of their account information.”

In short, this means that while your messages are probably secure, WhatsApp stores user data on private servers. The company can use this information for marketing purposes.

What’s more, the data stored on their servers can be given to the government in case of an “out-of-ordinary” event. Hackers can also break into WhatsApp servers and gain access to the phone numbers and account details of users.

The 5 Best Alternatives to WhatsApp – Those Apps Will Maintain Your Privacy And Keep You Secure

1. Signal

Signal is free, has strong encryption, and…

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