Editing Instant messaging (section)

=== Encryption ===
[[Encryption]] is the primary method that instant messaging apps use to protect user's data privacy and security. For corporate use, encryption and conversation archiving are usually regarded as important features due to security concerns.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schneier |first1=Bruce |last2=Seidel |first2=Kathleen |last3=Vijayakumar |first3=Saranya |date=11 February 2016 |title=Multi-Encrypting Messengers – in: A Worldwide Survey of Encryption Products |url=https://www.schneier.com/cryptography/paperfiles/worldwide-survey-of-encryption-products.pdf |access-date=28 March 2017}}</ref> There are also a bunch of open source encrypting messengers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=David |last2=Maier |first2=Ann-Kathrin |date=6 June 2016 |title=Big Seven Study, open source crypto-messengers to be compared – or: Comprehensive Confidentiality Review & Audit: Encrypting E-Mail-Client & Secure Instant Messenger, Descriptions, tests and analysis reviews of 20 functions of the applications based on the essential fields and methods of evaluation of the 8 major international audit manuals for IT security investigations including 38 figures and 87 tables |url=https://sf.net/projects/goldbug/files/bigseven-crypto-audit.pdf |access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref>

IM does hold potential advantages over [[SMS]]. SMS messages are not encrypted, making them insecure, as the content of each SMS message is visible to [[Mobile network operator|mobile carriers]] and governments and can be intercepted by a third party,<ref name="techcrunch20181225">{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/25/cybersecurity-101-guide-encrypted-messaging-apps/|title=Cybersecurity 101: How to choose and use an encrypted messaging app|website=TechCrunch|date=25 December 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref> may leak [[metadata]] (such as phone numbers),<ref name="techcrunch20181225" /> or be spoofed and the sender of the message can be edited to impersonate another person.<ref name="techcrunch20181225" />

Current instant messaging networks that use [[end-to-end encryption]] include [[Signal (messaging app)|Signal]], [[WhatsApp]], [[Wire (software)|Wire]] and [[iMessage]].<ref name="techcrunch20181225" />{{Better source needed|date=January 2021}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tuta.com/blog/best-whatsapp-alternatives-privacy|title=Best WhatsApp Alternatives|website=Tuta|date=24 February 2024 |language=en-US|access-date=2024-05-13}}</ref> Applications that have been criticized for lacking or poor encryption methods include [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] and [[Confide]], as both are prone to error or not having encryption enabled by default.<ref name="techcrunch20181225" />