Privacy

WhatsApp’s privacy policy pushes users to Signal, Telegram

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Privacy conscious smartphone users are switching to Signal and Telegram messaging apps to chat and communicate as WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app has updated its privacy policy mentioning about sharing the user data with its parent company Facebook.

WhatsApp notified the users of a new privacy policy saying that they will be sharing the user data with Facebook with effect from February 8th. Earlier the users can choose to opt out, but now they either Agree or delete the account.

Since this update, there has been a lot of conversation on the Internet about WhatsApp sharing the data and many users have thought about shifting to other encrypted messengers like Signal and Telegram.

Unlike WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram do not share user data and are considered to be better alternative if you are concerned about privacy.

Signal, developed by the Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger LLC, is a free messaging app that focuses on privacy and comes with a tagline ‘Say Hello to Privacy’. Their service is end-to-end encrypted and is available for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux. The app claims to collect minimal user data without compromising on features.

The users can send messages, make audio and video calls, share media and recently it also introduced the group video calling option.

The download of Signal app has significantly increased since the news and it even boosted when Elon Musk mocked WhatsApp policy by tweeting to Use Signal.

Telegram already has a large user base in India as the app is used widely by users for sharing exam materials, movies and other media.

WhatsApp clarified that the update would not change its data sharing practices in any way and does not impact how people communicate privately.

According to analysts, WhatsApp might still stay here as it would take a lot for the people to shift their social circles to a new app.

Priyanka R
Cyber Security Enthusiast, Security Blogger, Technical Editor, Author at Cyber Safe News

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