Signal, Telegram, and VPNs – What You Need to Know Source – https://www.tomsguide.com While WhatsApp is considered to be a genuine trailblazer in the field of encrypted messaging services, the Facebook-owned platform has recently lost considerable ground to some of its closest competitors. This is largely thanks to the wider privacy concerns surrounding Facebook and their use of data, while a poorly explained update to WhatsApp’s terms of service also sent customers running to alternative services like Signal and Telegram. But what’s the difference between these encrypted communication apps, and do you still need to utilise a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing such services? Are Signal and Telegram More Secure Than WhatsApp? The initial exodus from WhatsApp following the botched terms of service update in January 2021 was significant, causing the implementation of the new conditions to be delayed from the scheduled date of February 8th. During the first three weeks of January alone, Signal gained approximately 7.5 million new users across the globe, while Telegram added 25 million to their customer base as the market reacted to rising security concerns. But why were Signal and Telegram considered as favourable alternatives to WhatsApp? Well, aside from WhatsApp’s association with Facebook, Signal and Telegram also offer additional encryption features that arguably makes your data far more secure. While all of these platforms automatically encrypt messages and calls and the data included within, both Signal and Telegram go further by encrypting associated metadata too. Metadata refers to multiple datasets that provide information about other data, which in the case of messaging apps may include the location of the sender and individual user behaviour. Make no mistake; WhatsApp is known to collate large volumes of metadata pertaining to its users, including your phone number, location and even information about your contacts. While WhatsApp argues that this information is only stored and used to improve the user experience, it provides a significant security risk and raises fears that your data could be sold to third parties like advertisers. Conversely, Signal and Telegram have moved to heavily encrypt much of your metadata in addition to all calls and messages, safeguarding user privacy from more angles and ensuring that potentially sensitive information isn’t vulnerable to the machinations of hackers. Do You Need a VPN When Using Signal and Telegram? Clearly, it’s recommended that you...