Editor's note: We're facing an unprecedented moment in American history. Our government and multinational tech monopolies are making it clear that we, the people, are the target of the monstrous surveillance state they've constructed. The deep state is attempting to jail people who share memes, Blaze Media journalists, and even the leading presidential candidate. It's time we take back control over our privacy and digital communications, and this guide will provide you with the tools to do that. This is an excerpt from a larger guide.
Use secure text messaging
If you use texting to discuss work, family, or other personal topics, it's essential to have a secure text messaging service. Apple's iMessage works well; it's encrypted, and the company claims it doesn't track or identify as much as others. The problem with text messaging is that AT&T, Verizon, Apple, and Google can track your texts. They also link a lot of data back to you. So does WhatsApp, which Meta, formerly Facebook, owns. Meta collects incredible amounts of user data and does not respect your privacy. WhatsApp is part of Facebook. It collects data and metadata and shares it with Meta, so a lot of data, including location, purchases, and other identifiers, are linked to you. I would not use a Meta application for messaging.
The messaging service I recommend is Signal, which states that it does not collect data or link data to you. It uses end-to-end encryption, meaning your messages cannot be read if they are intercepted. Signal does not use ads or trackers or collect your data. Signal is free, which goes against my earlier advice, and I wish there were a paid option, but the company is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and states it has no connection to large tech companies and won't be acquired by one the way Facebook acquired WhatsApp. Signal also offers encrypted group messaging and encrypted voice and video calling. Edward Snowden and journalist Laura Poitras endorse it.
Signal gives better privacy, but it is a platform you have to join and get others to join you. This is less convenient than phone texting, which can go from number to number regardless of the service.
Other private options include:
- Telegram.
- Wire has personal and business accounts and has paid versions, which I like.
- There is also a new chat application called Pravica, which is built on blockchain technology, that I am testing. It is still a bit rough but promising.
Remember this: There is no perfect privacy. Signal, Telegram, and everything else can be hacked. Every application and digital technology has trade-offs.
Still, the lack of a perfect solution doesn't mean we should do nothing.
