Home / Technology / Encrypted Apps Exploit Data: Signal Tops Privacy
Encrypted Apps Exploit Data: Signal Tops Privacy
6 Jun
Summary
- 90% of messaging apps have AI tools that could expose data.
- Signal is the most private app, collecting only a phone number.
- Messenger and LINE are worst for aggressive data harvesting.
A recent study examining popular iOS messaging apps for 2025 has uncovered significant privacy risks, despite widespread end-to-end encryption. While nine out of ten analyzed apps offer end-to-end encryption, a concerning 90% now integrate AI tools that potentially expose private user data. These AI features, such as chat summarization or translation bots, require access to conversational data, feeding it back to service providers.
Signal emerges as the leading private messaging application, boasting a 0.99 privacy score by collecting only a phone number and employing quantum-secure cryptography. In stark contrast, Meta's Messenger and LINE are identified as the least private, with Messenger harvesting an extensive 32 out of 35 possible data types, much of which is used for targeted advertising and personalization.
Further analysis highlights Discord as an outlier, failing to offer end-to-end encryption for text messages. Alongside LINE and Rakuten Viber Messenger, it actively collects data for user tracking. The study also warns that even secure platforms like Signal are not immune to sophisticated phishing campaigns, emphasizing that user vigilance remains crucial.
