CYBERSECURITY experts have highlighted a list of four rules you should apply to your messaging apps.
If the app you’re using doesn’t follow any of these rules, you may want to consider deleting it as your security could be at risk.
The security experts at Kaspersky revealed the list on the company’s website.
They explained: “Messaging apps provide an easy-to-use way of keeping in touch with friends, family, and co-workers.
“However, when using them, it’s essential to be aware of online privacy and security.
“The main messaging app security concern is the extent to which third parties can potentially read private messages, the companies behind the apps, or even governments that collect data on their citizens.:
Kaspersky then directed readers to a list of four key security considerations.
Top of the list was end-to-end encryption.
If a messaging app doesn’t have this then your texts are at a greater risk of being exposed.
Kaspersky explained: “End-to-end encryption scrambles your private chat messages, and only the sender and the receiver of the messages have the “keys” to read them.”
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Next on the list was “open source code.”
This can be key to holding an app accountable for your data.
Kaspersky said: “Does it use open source code? Open source code means the app is open to outside accountability and auditing by experts, which can be a useful way to bring attention to any weaknesses or vulnerabilities in the code.”
The third feature on the list definitely isn’t present in all messaging apps.
Kaspersky highlighted the importance of self-destructing messages that disappear after a set period of time.
This adds an extra level of security to any app.
Finally, Kaspersky wants you to take note of the app’s “use of data.”
The experts explained: “While many secure messaging apps use end-to-end encryption, they can still collect data about you, called metadata.
“This includes information like who you talk to, for how long, on what device, your IP address, and phone number.”
Before downloading an app, you should check what permissions the app hopes to access.
You should also check what it will do with your data.
Kaspersky also provided a list of secure messaging apps and rated each one.
The list includes iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, Dust, Viber Wickr Me, Threema, Wire, and Signal.
