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<hr/><p><a href="../">sf.me</a> > <a style="color:#bd93f9" href="../blog/">Blog</a> > <a style="color:#bd93f9" href=".">Use Secure Messaging</a></p>
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<h1>Use Secure Messaging</h1>
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<p style="font-size:110%">Posted on: <strong>23 January 2024</strong></p>
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<p style="font-size:110%">Reading time: <strong><strong>5 min</strong>
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<p style="font-size:110%"></strong>Category: <a style="color:#ff79c6" href="../blog/software/"><strong>Software</strong></a> && <a style="color:#ff79c6" href="../blog/technology/"><strong>Technology</strong></a></p>
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<p>In an era of uncomfortably intrusive tracking, the requirement for secure messaging has become crucial.
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With companies like <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/one-answer-facebook-problem-block-its-tracking-technologies">Meta</a> and <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/03/google-says-it-doesnt-sell-your-data-heres-how-company-shares-monetizes-and">Google</a> intruding our privacy on a daily basis, we must take a stand, especially with the messaging applications, perhaps the most sensitive piece of software that people use.
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In this article, I will explain why it is urgent for you to take the stand by using secure messaging and explain how to get started.</p>
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<h2 id="privacy-an-ignored-factor">Privacy: An Ignored Factor</h2>
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<p>Privacy is incredibly important in this modern day and age.
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This is why I will only speak about messaging software that is <strong>both private and secure.</strong>
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When choosing software, privacy and security should have equal importance.</p>
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<h2 id="why-">Why?</h2>
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<p>Why would one use secure messaging if they have nothing to hide?</p>
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<h3 id="protecting-your-privacy">Protecting Your Privacy</h3>
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<p>Your privacy is incredibly important.
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However, it is ignored by most people, citing that they have nothing to hide.
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Everyone has something to hide, whether that be related to their money, reputation or even personal issues.
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Imagine your reaction if your current messages in their entirety got leaked, allowing anyone to read and go through them.
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You would be uncomfortable and also fear people taking advantage of your private messages.
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It is for this reason that it is important to safeguard your most personal conversations.</p>
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<h3 id="avoiding-cyber-threats">Avoiding Cyber Threats</h3>
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<p>Secure messaging uses end-to-end encryption.
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However, it is not wise to completely trust when companies advertise end-to-end encryption.
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It depends mostly on the algorithm that they use.
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For example, the Signal protocol is open-source and fully available to the public.
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This allows people to view and even contribute to improving its overall effectiveness.
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However, WhatsApp's encryption is proprietary.
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No one knows what encryption algorithm WhatsApp is running on their servers which makes it impossible to determine if it is secure.
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All in all, you should do your own research before proceeding.</p>
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<h3 id="protecting-metadata">Protecting Metadata</h3>
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<p>Your <a href="https://ssd.eff.org/module/why-metadata-matters">metadata is crucial</a> to protecting your conversations.
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It can give context to your messages.
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Protecting your metadata helps mask your messages and protects it from being tampered.</p>
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<h2 id="getting-started">Getting Started</h2>
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<p>I will be showcasing how to download and use secure messaging apps.
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As aforementioned, I will only show apps that are <strong>both secure and private.</strong></p>
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<h3 id="1-choose-a-secure-app">1. Choose a secure app</h3>
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<p>Firstly, download one of the following:</p>
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<ol>
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<li><a href="https://www.signal.org/">Signal</a> - It is free, open-source and is a great alternative for WhatsApp</li>
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<li><a href="https://getsession.org/">Session</a> - It is incredibly private. You do not get a phone number and have to backup a seed phrase, making it complicated for most users.</li>
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<li><a href="https://threema.ch/en">Threema</a> - Threema is a <strong>paid</strong> option but also easy to use.</li>
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</ol>
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<p>Next, open your app and set it up.
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Keep only the bare minimum data about you.
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For my name, I keep a dash (-) and no profile picture.</p>
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<h3 id="2-enable-two-factor-authentication">2. Enable two-factor authentication</h3>
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<p>Now, enable <a href="https://sufyaan.me/tfa">two-factor authentication</a> if available.
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This allows you to prevent others from registering using your credentials without your consent.</p>
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<h3 id="3-keep-updating">3. Keep updating</h3>
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<p>Regularly check for updates.
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If an app has an update, update it.
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This prevents security and privacy breaches from occurring.</p>
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<h3 id="4-use-disappearing-messages">4. Use disappearing messages</h3>
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<p>Keep disappearing messages on by default.
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This ensures that sensitive messages are deleted within a period of time.
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For extremely sensitive chats, consider visiting the person you want to talk to physically.
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If that is not an option, turn on disappearing messages and set a time limit for 5 minutes and chat with them, so that the messages disappear after 5 minutes.</p>
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<h3 id="5-educate-your-contacts">5. Educate your contacts</h3>
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<p>If your contacts are still on other messaging apps, convince them to join secure messaging apps as well.
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This allows you to have a secure option even if your main chats are on the other app.</p>
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<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>
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<p>In conclusion, it is important to employ secure messaging.
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Signal, Session and Threema are all viable applications that one can use.
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If only a few of your contacts are on Signal, do not worry.
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Talk to them on Signal and the others on the app you talk with them on.
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Remember, privacy is a journey, not a destination.</p>
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<p><a href="mailto:sf@sufyaan.me?subject=Use%20Secure%20Messaging">>>> Reply To Me</a></p>
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