WhatsApp vs Telegram: Which app has more security features

Feb 16, 2023

Credit: Unsplash

WhatsApp and Telegram are rival instant messaging applications

​claiming to have security features that keep users' data safe and conversations private. These apps are not only restrained to messaging but also allow you to make video calls, media sharing, and others. Let's know what both applications offer in terms of security.​

Credit: Canva

Will Cathcart tweet against Telegram

WhatsApp head Will Cathcart tweeted, Telegram's end-to-end encryption protocols lack independent verification: “most disturbingly, some activists have found their “secret chats”—Telegram’s purportedly ironclad, end-to-end encrypted feature—behaving strangely, in ways that suggest an unwelcome third party might be eavesdropping.”

Credit: Meta

End-to-end encryption

WhatsApp is enabled with end-to-end encryption that lets you share media and chat privately and safely. However, on Telegram, end-to-end encryption is not default.

Credit: Canva

Two-step verification

This feature adds an extra layer of security to your account.WhatsApp: Settings-account-2-step verification-enableTelegram: Settings-Privacy and Security-2-step verification

Credit: Canva

Disappearing messages vs Self-destructing media

Disappearing messages in WhatsApp is an optional feature that lets you chat more privately. You can set messages to disappear 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days after the time they are sent.Self-destructing media in Telegram allows you to set a timer, after which messages disappear automatically from both devices.

Credit: Canva

Secret chats vs View once

Telegram provides you with a safer chatbox that uses end-to-end encryption and messages cannot be forwarded, and people will get notified if a person takes screenshots. WhatsApp lets users send media with the 'view once' option and enables screenshot blocking for 'view once' messages.

Credit: Canva

Online Status

WhatsApp and Telegram allow you to edit your online status visibility to nobody, everyone, and my contacts. However, WhatsApp users can choose 'my contacts except', and Telegram users can allow 'exceptions' to the settings.

Credit: Canva

Other security features

WhatsApp has rolled out several security features like the 'login approval’ feature to prevent hacking, encrypted backup, profile photo privacy, lets you decide who can see your profile photo, face or touch ID, fingerprint lock, and more

Credit: Canva