Over the past few years, Telegram’s popularity has skyrocketed. The fact that the program is generally regarded as more private than its more famous competitor, Whatsapp, is a significant factor in its popularity. Recently implemented changes to Whatsapp’s privacy policy have drawn attention to the Meta-owned firm.
In contrast to Whatsapp, A significant technological business does not control Telegram, and protecting user privacy is central to its mission. Here are some measures Telegram takes to keep its user’s data private.
- Encryption (secret chat): Feature for end-to-end encryption for your chats
- Deleting entire message threads: The ability to delete not only your but other people’s messages from both devices
- Self-destructing chats: Auto-deleting chats after a pre-set amount of time
- Screen lock: Lock the app with a passcode or fingerprint
- Hide your phone number: Hide your phone number from all users
- Two-factor authentication: Lock the app with a second password
Telegram vs WhatsApp: Which One is More Private?
Telegram: Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging app and social media platform. Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai created it, which launched in 2013. Telegram emphasizes speed, security, and user privacy. The app allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and files and make voice and video calls. It has gained popularity for its encrypted messaging features and large group capacity.
WhatsApp: WhatsApp is also a cloud-based instant messaging app founded by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, and it was released in 2009. It became famous for its simple interface and cross-platform messaging capabilities. WhatsApp offers messaging, voice and video calling, and file sharing. In 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook.
Telegram vs WhatsApp – User Base:
As of my last update in September 2021, WhatsApp had a more extensive user base than Telegram. WhatsApp has over two billion monthly active users, making it one of the world’s most widely used messaging apps. On the other hand, Telegram had around 500 million monthly active users. However, these numbers could have changed since then, so verifying the latest figures is essential.
Telegram vs WhatsApp – Features:
Both Telegram and WhatsApp offer a wide range of features, and some of the key ones are:
- Group Chats: Both apps allow users to create and participate in group chats with many members. Telegram supports groups with up to 200,000 members, whereas WhatsApp allows up to 256 members in a group.
- File Sharing: Users can send various files, including photos, videos, documents, and more, through both apps.
- Voice and Video Calls: Telegram and WhatsApp offer voice and video calling features.
- Channel Broadcasting: Telegram provides a feature called Channels, which allows users to broadcast messages to unlimited subscribers. WhatsApp has a similar feature called Broadcast Lists but is limited to 256 recipients.
- Stickers and GIFs: Both apps have a collection of stickers and GIFs that users can send in chats.
- Web and Desktop Versions: Telegram and WhatsApp offer web and desktop versions that sync with the mobile app.
- Read Receipts: Both apps have read receipts to indicate when the recipient has read a message.
- Customization: Telegram allows users to create custom themes, while WhatsApp has a limited selection of articles.
Security Features Comparison:
- Encryption (‘Secret Chat’): Telegram and WhatsApp use end-to-end encryption for their messages and calls. Telegram has an additional feature called “Secret Chat,” which offers end-to-end encryption for specific conversations, and statements in these chats are not stored on Telegram’s servers.
- Deleting Other People’s Messages: In Telegram, users can delete messages for everyone in a chat, including those sent by others. WhatsApp also has a similar “Delete for Everyone” feature.
- Self-destructing Chats/Media: Telegram’s “Secret Chat” offers an optional self-destruct timer for messages, meaning messages can automatically disappear after a specified time. WhatsApp does not have this feature.
- Screen Lock: Both apps offer the option to set up a passcode or fingerprint lock to access the app.
- Hide Your Phone Number: Telegram allows you to hide your phone number from non-contacts or entirely from all users. WhatsApp does not offer this feature.
- Two-Factor Authentication: Both apps support two-factor authentication, providing an extra layer of security for account logins.
Must Check Out:
- Whatsapp Was Not Spying: Google Confirms an Android Bug Was Responsible for the Privacy Incident
- It Will Be Simpler For Whatsapp Users To Reject Changes To Its Terms Of Service
Privacy Protection Measures:
Telegram and WhatsApp take privacy seriously and use end-to-end encryption to protect user data. This means that only the sender and recipient of messages can read the content, and not even the platform can access it.
Additionally, Telegram allows users to use usernames instead of phone numbers for identification, giving users more control over their privacy. It also offers the ability to create “Secret Chats” with self-destructing messages and no message forwarding.
WhatsApp also uses end-to-end encryption for all messages, and it now offers an option to hide the “last seen” status and read receipts. WhatsApp also introduced a privacy policy that allows users to choose who can add them to groups.
Telegram’s Parent Company and Founders:
Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai founded Telegram. Pavel Durov is a Russian entrepreneur who co-founded VKontakte (VK), a popular social networking site in Russia. The company behind Telegram is Telegram Messenger LLP, registered in the British Virgin Islands.
Security Feature Comparison at a Glance:
| Security Feature | Telegram | |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-End Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Secret Chats | Yes | No |
| Delete for Everyone | Yes | Yes |
| Self-destructing Chats | Yes (in Secret Chats) | No |
| Screen Lock | Yes | Yes |
| Hide Your Phone Number | Yes | No |
| Two-Factor Authentication | Yes | Yes |
It’s important to note that both Telegram and WhatsApp are continually updating and improving their features, so the information provided here might change over time. Always check the latest app versions and security settings for the most up-to-date information.
