The problem with WhatsApp
WhatsApp uses the Signal protocol — technically well encrypted. But WhatsApp belongs to Meta. And Meta collects metadata: when you message, who you message, how often, from where.
Metadata is often more dangerous than the content itself. If someone knows you text a certain person every Friday at 10pm, they know enough — even without reading a single word.
Chat Control 2.0 demands client-side scanning. The AI runs on your phone and scans messages before they're encrypted. Even the most secure messenger can't technically prevent this — unless the provider refuses to install the scanning software. That's exactly what Signal has promised to do.
Signal — The best choice for most people
Open source, recommended by Snowden, stores practically no data. Signal is the messenger that security experts have been recommending for years.
- Signal protocol (state of the art)
- Sealed Sender — minimal metadata
- Open source (client and server)
- Free, funded by donations
Threema — Swiss quality
From Switzerland, collects zero metadata. You don't even need a phone number — a random ID is enough. Costs a one-time $3.99.
Session — Maximum privacy
Session needs neither phone number nor email. It's decentralized and routes messages through multiple nodes — like Tor for messaging.
Comparison
| Feature | Signal | Threema | Session | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E2E Encryption | Always | Always | Always | Always |
| Open Source | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| No Metadata | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Phone Number Needed | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Cost | Free | $3.99 | Free | Free |
Signal for 95% of users. Easy to use, extremely secure, and most contacts already have it. For maximum anonymity: Session. For Swiss privacy laws: Threema.