WhatsApp has announced it will share user data with Facebook, and users will have to accept the new terms and conditions to continue using WhatsApp. This is not a surprise to many critics who have been following Facebook for years.

Facebook has assured users in the UK and the EU, that they are protected by GDPR, and their data will not be used. We are a little wary of this promise, as users in these countries still have to accept the new terms to use the service!

What’s the problem?

There are 3 reasons to be concerned:

1. Firstly, Facebook has already moved UK users’ data to their US servers since Brexit came into force on 1 January 2021. This action can only be due to Facebook’s anticipation that UK will either do away with GDPR post Brexit, or will diverge sufficiently for Facebook not to have to worry.
2. Secondly, if Facebook is not going to use EU and UK users’ data, why bother asking them to agree to T&Cs? Somehow the promise of privacy sounds hollow, or disingenuous.
3. Finally, Facebook’s business model is based on data, that is your data, the user’s data! Facebook generates revenue from advertising, and the appeal of Facebook’s Advertising for sellers is the granularity of data that allows them to target their audience. Consumer behaviour, preferences, and profiling is food, air, and water to Facebook, so it is hard to believe it will not try its best to get its hand on your data, no matter where you live.

Where do we go from here?

Let’s get this dealt with at the very start. If you use Facebook, then don’t bother reading the rest. They already have your data, so your privacy ship sailed a while ago. Unless you are going to delete your Facebook account, there is no point deleting WhatsApp!

There are numerous options for alternative applications, but first and foremost you need to think about the following before choosing a replacement:

• Popularity – There is no point using an app that nobody else is using. Remember, in most cases, you have to convince your regular contacts to also move across.
• Functionality – Not all messaging platforms offer the same, including desktop application, groups, media sharing, voice calls, video calls, etc.
• Privacy – All platforms have some privacy holes in their T&Cs. Let’s face it, they have to make money, and unless they charge you for usage, “you” have to become the product in some shape or form.
• Security – Messaging can be prone to hacking, as well as malware, eavesdropping, interception, etc. So you need to make sure the replacement applications gives you the same security as you had on WhatsApp.

What are the options?

There are other options on the market, but you have to consider what is important to you, as you will have to make some compromises.

Here are some of the popular options:

SMS

We know, this is an old one. However, SMS is on every mobile device, so you do not need to add another app, and no worries about if other people have the same app.

Your mobile network provider already knows where you are, who you call, and how often, so you are not giving up any more information than they already have.

However, on the downside, it has no encryption, usage is not free, and sending media is just clunky at best!

• Encryption – No
• Voice Calls – No (have to use your normal mobile)
• Video Calls – No (have to use another App)
• Desktop App – No
• Mutli-Media Messages – MMS
• Self-destruct Messages – No

Signal

Signal effectively replaces your SMS application on your device.

The neat part is that you do not have to worry if other people don’t have the same App. You can still send and receive SMS messages using Signal. Additionally, SMS messages sent via Signal are free, but of course they cannot be encrypted.

Signal to Signal user messages are encrypted, as it does not use SMS network, but uses data (Wi-Fi or Mobile Data Package).

Signal is very secure, (Edward Snowdon uses it!). The European Commission has also instructed all staff to switch to Signal instead of using SMS.

Signal also does not collect any meta data, your address book, or your location. For the really paranoid, even back up is optional (at no cost) and the back up is local rather than in the cloud.

One word of warning. WhatsApp and Viber show only your contacts that use the same application. However, if you select Signal to replace your SMS application, then it shows all your contacts whether they use Signal or not. This means, if you miss the signs indicating who is not a Signal user, you could send unencrypted messages via SMS unwittingly.

• Encryption – Signal-to-Signal user only
• Voice Calls – Yes
• Video Calls – Yes
• Desktop App – Yes for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Debian Based Distros)
• Mutli-Media Messages – Yes
• Self-destruct Messages – Yes

Telegram

Despite what people think, messages are not encrypted end-to-end. The default “Cloud Chat” is not encrypted, and only “Secret Chats” are encrypted. Additionally, Telegram uses their own encryption rather than standard encryption. Now you might think that is a good thing, but security experts don’t agree with that sentiment.

• Encryption – Secret Chats Only
• Voice Calls – Requires additional App ID
• Video Calls – Requires additional App ID
• Desktop App – Yes for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Check your Distro)
• Mutli-Media Messages – Yes
• Self-destruct Messages – Secret Chats Only.

Viber

Viber has been around for a long time. It works very similarly to WhatsApp, which means you have encryption, you can set up groups, make calls, video calls, and send multi-media messages.

You can also download their desktop application, which makes it much easier to use when you have access to a PC or laptop.

• Encryption – End-to-End
• Voice Calls – Yes
• Video Calls – Yes
• Desktop App – Yes for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Check your Distro)
• Mutli-Media Messages – Yes
• Self-destruct Messages – No

So what’s the catch on Viber? Viber is like the old Skype, so it makes money by advertising and by users making calls to non-Viber users (either mobile or landline). This means as long as you stick to Viber users, all your calls and messages are free, and you have the same functionality as WhatsApp.

Summary

There are plenty of replacement applications, so the question is what is important to you.

If Privacy is your priority, then you can’t beat Signal.

However, if you want to directly replace WhatsApp with another application, then Viber is your best choice.

* Requires App ID