Right now, Facebook Messenger, Signal, WhatsApp, and other messaging applications are important as they allow people to connect with one another, especially during the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, which is still greatly affecting some countries across the globe.
The Snapchat app is displayed on the home screen of an iPhone on May 2, 2018 in San Anselmo, California. Stock prices for Snapchat dropped 20 percent before slightly rebounding after reporting first quarter earnings of $230.66 million on Tuesday that didn't meet analyst expectations of $243.6 million
However, various security experts revealed that these online messaging platforms can put your sensitive info at risk.
To make the users feel more secure, Apple recently announced that it added the new App Tracking Transparency, which is specifically developed to require app developers to disclose their products' tracking habits.
Aside from the giant iPhone manufacturer, Google also confirmed that its Play Store App will soon have the new Safety Section. This new security update's goal is the same as Apple's latest ATT.
However, users still need to know which messaging app is the safest to use and which one is the riskiest. To help you further, here is the 2021 Privacy Ranking for messaging applications.
2021 Messaging App Privacy Ranking
Phone Arena provided the complete Privacy Ranking list for the popular messaging apps this 2021.
Here are their rankings from the safest to the riskiest to use. On the other hand, you can also check the data they could collect from you once you use them:
An attendee looks at a new iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California. Apple held their first special event at the new Apple Park campus where they announced the new iPhone 8, iPhone X and the Apple Watch Series 3.
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Signal
Data to be collected: Not Indicated
Skype
Data to be collected: Contact Info, User Content, Usage Data, Identifiers, Diagnostics
Zoom
Data to be collected: Location, User Content, Usage Data, Contact Info, Identifiers, Diagnostics
Discord
Data to be collected: Purchases, Contact Info, User Content, Search History, Identifiers, Usage Data, Diagnostics
Telegram
Data to be collected: Purchases, Location, Contacts, Identifiers, Financial Info, Contact Info, User Content
Data to be collected: Purchases, Location, Contacts, Identifiers, Diagnostics, Financial Info, Contact Info, User Content, Usage Data
Facebook Messenger
Data to be collected: Health & Fitness, Purchases, Financial Info, Location, Contact Info, Contacts, User Content, Search History, Browsing History, Identifiers, Usage Data, Sensitive Info, Diagnostics, Other Data
TikTok
Data to be collected linked to your identity: Purchases, Location, Financial Info, Contact Info, Contacts, User Content, Search History, Browsing History, Identifiers, Usage Data, Diagnostics
Data to be collected not linked to your identity: Usage Data
Data to be tracked: Contact Info, Identifiers
Based on the list above, the safest one to use is Signal since it does not collect any sensitive user data from the people. On the other hand, the riskiest one to use is TikTok since it tracks and collects data linked and not linked to the users.
How to Prevent Them From Accessing Your Data
According to CNET's latest report, there are various methods you can do to prevent these messaging platforms from accessing, tracking, and collecting your sensitive info. However, you need to remember that they are not 100% efficient.
To help you further, here's how you can disable and enable app permissions, which is an efficient method to use.
- Open your phone's Settings app.
- After that, you need to go to the Application Manager section.
- Once you are there, you need to select each app to change its Permission settings. From there, you can either allow or prevent them from accessing your data.
For more news updates about messaging apps and other online platforms, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
