Google Hangouts, Skype, and Facebook Messenger are some of the most popular video chat services available today. They also happen to be some of the riskiest. Recent cyberattacks have exposed numerous vulnerabilities in these chat platforms, leaving users at risk of not only manipulation but also extortion. With that in mind, it’s time to find a safer alternative. Luckily, there are several great video chatting services that take security seriously. In this post, we’ll explore the risks associated with prevalent video chat services and recommend 6 excellent alternatives with secure features and protocols.
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Why are video chat apps risky?
Video chat apps are risky because they allow people to connect in real time, making it easy to manipulate and extort others. A video chat user can leverage audio and video feeds to trick or coerce his counterpart. This can range from blackmail to psychological abuse.
Also, video chat apps make it easy to collect sensitive information like passwords or banking login credentials. A malicious video chat user could record these details and use them for monetary or political gain. These communication tools also make it easy to impersonate an authority figure, such as a lawyer or government official, to trick others into doing something they shouldn't.
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts was once the service of choice for instant messaging and video chatting. Unfortunately, the lack of security here makes it a risky proposition for users who want privacy and security. This is especially true for people who use the app for business purposes. After some behind-the-scenes changes in 2018, Google Hangouts now uses the same backend as the Google Chat service.
While it's possible to effectively separate business and personal communications, it's still not as secure as many would like. Most importantly, the service does not encrypt end-to-end user communications. This means that Google can access the content and authorities can ask for it. To make matters worse, the app has a history of bugs in the video chat feature.
While you are using advanced video chat you won't be tracked and it will help you find new friends.
Skype
Skype is another video chat service that does not have end-to-end encryption. While the service isn't as widely used in business environments as it once was, it's still a viable communication tool for some.
Like Google Hangouts, Skype has a history of being exploited by hackers and criminals. Users should be careful with this app due to security concerns and privacy concerns. Both hackers and authorities have easy access to content shared on Skype.
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Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is another popular communication app. While it's a great place to share photos and other non-confidential information, it's not a good choice for anyone who values their privacy. For starters, Facebook's track record in protecting user data is akin to that of a sieve.
As mentioned in our Facebook review, the social media platform has repeatedly been in the news for mishandling, misuse, and even outright selling of user data. Facebook Messenger does not support end-to-end encryption and does not allow users to verify the identity of other users. This means that it is possible to communicate with hackers or imposters by pretending to be someone else.
Tango
Tango is a video chat app mainly used for sharing photos and videos with friends. Despite its limited functionality, the app is a safe choice for anyone looking for secure communication. Despite being owned by Google, Tango has managed to be free of the data accumulation problems that plague other Google communication services. Tango also features end-to-end encryption, making it a secure video chat option.
Some people believe that WhatsApp is more secure than other video chat apps. Although it has end-to-end encryption and does not track user data, this feature is not enabled by default. This means that users must manually enable the encryption feature to prevent hackers from accessing their data. Unfortunately, many people don't know this, or it doesn't occur to them to do so. Another problem is that many users mistakenly believe that the application is completely safe. This is not the case. WhatsApp is still vulnerable to government surveillance.
Video chat on Google Duo
Google Duo is a video chat app mainly used for sharing one-to-one conversations. It's a relatively new app that has quickly gained popularity. So far, Duo has proven itself to be a reliable video chat app with a number of useful features. Unfortunately, the Duo has its fair share of shortcomings worth knowing about. More importantly, Duo is not end-to-end encrypted. This means that Google can access the content of video chats and authorities can ask for it. It also means that hackers can access it if they manage to break into the servers. Although Duo automatically ends the call if a person drops out, it does not alert the user if a third party joins the call.
BBM Meetings for Android and iOS
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is one of the oldest messaging apps available. Although it is mainly used for text and picture messaging, it also comes with video chat functionality. BBM Meetings is a useful video chat application for businesses. They have many features that make them a safe option for video chatting.
BBM Meetings includes end-to-end encryption, which makes it nearly impossible for third parties to access content. They also have an excellent security system that provides end-to-end identity verification and authentication. This helps to prevent imposters from using the service.
Conclusion
Google Duo is a great app for anyone who wants to make one-on-one video calls. If you're looking for something more, BBM Meetings is the app for you. BBM Meetings is a secure video conferencing application that can be used to make one-to-one or one-to-many video calls. Both apps are available for Android and iOS users.
However, please be aware that BBM Meetings is only available to BlackBerry users. Google Duo, WhatsApp and Skype are great options if you want to do one-on-one video calls. Google Hangouts can be used for group video calls if you are willing to deal with its security issues. Hangouts is also the only video chat app in this article that can be used on a desktop.face
Of course, there are other apps that make video calls. The vast majority of messengers offer this option. We have Line, Facetime and many others.
