The importance of communication security and protection of personal data can affect everyone at any time. Messengers are one of the most used applications. Most often, we share the most private and sensitive information with their help.
These days, many people spend more time chatting online than they do face-to-face communications. Do you ever say something during a call that others don't need to hear? If the answer is yes, then in this case it is best to use secure calling apps.
How safe are your apps to make calls?
You may not need to read this article. You may already have the best secure calling app. To find out if this is the case, check the application against the following criteria:
end-to-end encryption;
transfer of data to third parties is excluded;
the source code is open for study;
registration requires a minimum amount of data;
peer-to-peer connection is supported.
Secure calling apps improve your safety
Are there any secure calling Apps?
Fortunately, modern developers have provided a considerable selection of secure calling apps. They are already actively used in the work of various companies and help keep valuable data secret. Despite the fact that these are different brands, they share a number of key features.
Which App is secure to make calls
In order to assess the security of user data in a particular messenger, we define the key criteria for security, privacy and anonymity. Knowing the features will allow you to determine the most secure calling app for yourself:
End-to-end encryption. Support for end-to-end encryption ensures that only you and the recipient can decrypt and read the information. E2E is considered the main attribute of any messenger that positions itself as a secure one.
Gathering Data and Metadata The metadata that each of us generates through our online activities is like a digital fingerprint. Messengers also collect metadata that can describe our personality in great detail. It is important that there is a small amount of such data.
Which App is secure to make calls
Open source. The open source code allows for comprehensive application security auditing. Hobbyists, enthusiasts, experts can examine the operation of the application and draw attention to weaknesses, vulnerabilities in both the server and client parts of the code.
Support for peer-to-peer connection. Peer-to-peer connection excludes the participation of a third party. The messages are delivered directly to the recipient's device. It is important to note that such a connection freely allows you to see with whom and for how long it has been established, which, of course, affects anonymity and reduces the level of confidentiality.
Registration information. The more data required during registration, the lower the anonymity.
The messenger's support for two-factor authentication is an important additional security element. The second layer of protection based on 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) can effectively stop an intruder. Some secure calling apps prompt the user to activate 2FA through a notification.
May a free calling App be safe?
There are examples of good free secure calling apps like Signal. But we want to note that there is nothing bad about using a paid application. If you pay to use it, you invest in your security. You transfer your funds to companies that improve and refine their product.
Paid apps are not as popular as free ones. And this is their next plus. After all, the axiom is known: if an application is used in large quantities, then this significantly worsens its security.
What are some of the most secure calling Apps?
There are a number of applications that are actively used by companies to ensure the security of communication among their employees:
Red phone. The free Android app is a good option for those who are afraid of listening to conversations. With it, you can call other users of the RedPhone network to their phone numbers via a data channel — such calls are not registered. But even if the call is intercepted, its content will remain confidential, as the program encrypts the conversation.
Silent phone. This application is for secure phone calls for Android and iOS. It’s one of the tools of the Silent Circle package that allows users to communicate anonymously in text and voice mode. Data transmission is protected and encrypted along the entire length of the communication channel. To communicate with subscribers who do not have Silent Phone installed, you can communicate securely using the paid Out-Circle Access tool.
Signal. Edward Snowden, an expert in the privacy field, called it the best secure calling app. The app has been developed for both Android and iOS. It uses an advanced end-to-end encryption protocol.
VIPole. Communicate securely with friends and colleagues with encrypted messages, calls and videos. Here you can create group chats without restrictions and real conferences for productive group work on joint projects. VIPole has all the necessary functionality for comfortable work in a team. There is a function to hide the IP address when making calls.
Wire. Cross-platform messenger with support for end-to-end encryption with its own Wire Swiss security protocol.
Anwork. Secure calling app. It allows you to make audio and video calls, organize conferences. It does not require the introduction of email and number during the registration.