Encryption Isn't Everything

Many messaging apps claim "encryption" but the details matter enormously. Key differentiators: Is encryption end-to-end or just in-transit? Is it on by default? What metadata is collected? Is the code open source and auditable?

Head-to-Head

Signal: E2EE always on, minimal metadata, fully open source. Gold standard.

WhatsApp: E2EE via Signal Protocol, but extensive metadata collection shared with Meta. Good encryption, concerning data practices.

Telegram: NOT E2EE by default. Only "Secret Chats" are encrypted. Regular chats are server-side encrypted. Custom MTProto protocol, less scrutinized.

iMessage: E2EE between Apple devices. Strong security but not cross-platform. Apple retains some metadata.

Session: Decentralized, no phone number required, onion-routed. Most anonymous option.

Recommendations

For maximum security: Signal. For Apple ecosystem: iMessage (with awareness of limitations). For large groups: Telegram (with awareness that default chats aren't E2EE). For privacy-plus: Session.

For sharing dead man's switch encryption passwords: Signal with disappearing messages enabled.