Following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France, the app is now under investigation in India due to its use in illegal activities such as extortion and gambling. This probe, which could result in a ban on Telegram, is being conducted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), according to a report by Moneycontrol.
If Telegram is banned, here are five secure messaging app alternatives to consider:
Signal: Signal is considered one of the most secure messaging platforms, offering default end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls. Developed by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton in 2014, it is open-source, allowing public inspection of its code for added transparency. Signal also features disappearing messages and encrypted voice and video calls, making it an excellent choice for privacy-focused users.
WhatsApp: Owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), WhatsApp is a globally popular messaging app with over 2 billion users. It provides end-to-end encryption for messages and calls, along with features like group chats, voice messaging, and large file sharing. However, some users might be wary of its connection to Meta, given the company’s past data privacy concerns.
Brosix: Brosix is a secure team communication platform, ideal for businesses needing private internal communication. It offers end-to-end encryption, chat room controls, chat history archives, and customizable data security levels. Brosix also includes features like a virtual whiteboard and screen-sharing, making it a comprehensive collaboration tool.
Mattermost: Mattermost is a secure messaging platform popular in IT and corporate settings, offering end-to-end encryption for team collaboration. It supports cross-platform usage and features file sharing, message search, and the creation of private chat rooms, making it a versatile alternative to Telegram and Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams is a robust collaboration platform integrated with Microsoft 365, providing end-to-end encryption for secure communication. It supports video conferences, file sharing, and real-time collaboration, making it suitable for businesses and educational institutions.
These apps offer a range of secure communication features, making them solid alternatives if Telegram is banned in India.