If you've been spilling your guts on Secret or sending NSFW selfies through Snapchat, you might want to keep in mind that messaging apps aren't as secure as companies make them out to be.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has released a scorecard that rates messaging systems including Facebook chat, Skype and Kik based on seven security criteria and found that just six apps completely pass muster, PCMag.com reported.
Looking at 39 messaging services, the EFF looked at whether or not the messages are protected by encryption; if the provider can read the communication; if past messages are secure; and other safety measures.
"Our campaign is focused on communication technologies--including chat clients, text messaging apps, email applications and video calling technologies," the foundation said in the report. "These are the tools everyday users need to communicate with friends, family members and colleagues, and we need secure solutions for them."
The six that passed the EFF's seven tests were all less popular apps that are geared toward people intent on keeping their messages secure: ChatSecure + Orbot, Cryptocat, RedPhone, Silent Phone, Silent Text and TextSecure.
Secret, a purportedly anonymous app, only received one checkmark out of seven for messages that are encrypted in transit; the service failed the other six criteria, including whether or not the provider can read the messages. Snapchat fared slightly better, garnering checkmarks for missives that are encrypted in transit and for audited code--a security rating identical to that of Google's hangout and chat features in "off the record" mode.
Apple's iMessage and FaceTime both received a score of five out of the seven criteria, losing two checkmarks because contacts' identities can't be verified and the code hasn't been opened to independent review.
In the report, the EFF gave a nod to Edward Snowden and the NSA revelations of summer 2013.
"Given widespread government surveillance, why don't people routinely use tools to encrypt their communications?" the foundation asked. "Wouldn't we all communicate a little more freely without the shadow of surveillance?"
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