We spend a lot of time communicating online, via email and messaging apps, but have you ever wondered if the information you are sending, and storing is secure? Sometimes, we send messages that are private and may contain sensitive documents or information. If you send a lot of these messages, especially in a work environment, it is essential to make sure that they are protected, to ensure your data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. If you’re interested in finding out more about secure communication, and how your apps measure up – read on and we’ll explain more below.
Apps and secure communication
We all use apps to communicate – whether that’s an email platform or a form of instant messaging. They are an incredibly popular and easy way to get in touch with friends, family, or colleagues at the touch of a button. Because of this, we can send sensitive information easily, and sometimes without thinking. It is important that you’re aware of the security that the app you are using can offer, as this can save your data from being compromised.
There are a few reasons why you need to consider how secure the messaging service you’re using is. We’ll all have received spam emails and messages at some point, which tend to come from information leaked online – using an encrypted messaging service reduces the chance of this happening. Another reason that you should consider checking in-app security, is so that any personal details, for example, bank details, or work-related details such as future company plans cannot be intercepted and used for the wrong reasons.
In general, yes, a lot of messaging platforms do provide secure communication. If you’re looking to switch to one of these protected apps to keep your information safe in the future, here are a few characteristics that you should look out for when choosing an app for communication.
Encryption
Make sure the apps you choose to use for communication offer encryption, especially if you’re using them within a workplace. Encryption means that only you and the people intended to receive the information that you’ve sent can view the message – meaning that no third party has access to private information, not even the app provider itself. When you’re choosing an app for communication, looking for evidence that it can provide encryption means that it is secure, and you are able to use it safely and effectively.
Disappearing messages
Another great way to check whether an app offers secure communication is to check if it allows for content to be auto erased. This is a good feature when it comes to sharing important, private data and documents with others. It is a feature that allows you to set a time or date for the message to be erased so that it can no longer be viewed by anyone after a specific set time. This means that it has less chance of being incepted or seen by third parties.
Authentication
Apps that provide high levels of authentication are more likely to be secure when it comes to sending sensitive information. These days, a lot of apps ask you to confirm your identity – sometimes, you’ll find that to log into an email app on your phone, you’ll receive a text message with a code so that you can log in. This is a good example of how authentication can work well when keeping your information safe. If a third party did try to log into your app, you would receive a message sent to your personal phone number – they wouldn’t be able to log in, and you’d know that your account was at risk.
Back-ups
When choosing an app for communication, you should consider whether there is an option for back-up to retrieve any information that may be deleted. This can be helpful if you’re storing information, documents, or data on your app – if anything goes wrong, or is deleted for any reason, you can recover the information at the touch of a button, and it will be restored in seconds. An app that offers a back-up service is advantageous, as it gives you peace of mind that your data is securely stored and accessible whatever happens.