Everybody says they want digital security in an era of hackers and data thieves, but few people take the steps necessary to protect their communications. Many popular communication apps promise “end-to-end encryption,” as if that’s the end of the story.

Digital security involves more than that. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes a genuinely secure phone platform different from the popular third-party apps.

Leading Encryption 

Just because encryption is “end-to-end” does not mean it’s the strongest encryption available. You’re best off using an encrypted cell phone featuring military-grade encryption.

It’s also crucial that phone calls and even your camera is protected by encryption. Not only can pictures be just as private as any text, but each photo contains metadata bearing sensitive information, like your GPS location.

No-Third Party Apps

As mentioned, third-party communication apps are as pervasive as they are risky. Once you’ve downloaded one to your phone, there’s no way to track how the developer shares, sells, or stores your data.

Perhaps they leave it somewhere unprotected, where a hacker can access it and use it for blackmail or sell it on the dark web. Maybe they’ll quietly sell your user data to a different marketing company.

Most people don’t scan the permissions they’re granting before downloading the app. By the time they realize how much privacy they’ve given up, it’s already too late. Look for a hardened device designed for use without third-party apps.

Secure Server Storage

Hackers typically look for the weakest vulnerability, so they don’t have to work hard to find what they’re after. They often bypass encryption, which is virtually impenetrable, and try to find the same information on the server stored somewhere in an unencrypted format. 

That’s why the leading phone platforms act as a relay rather than storing this sensitive data on the server itself. Hackers can’t steal information that isn’t there! When the only data on the server is basic things like username, activation date, and expiry date, there’s nothing that can go wrong. 

Extra Security Measures

Most people think of hackers stealing your data remotely when they think of a data breach. Your information is just as vulnerable to a breach if the device itself gets stolen or lost. 

Should you become separated from the device for whatever reason, a remote wipe is necessary — never lose control over your private data, even if you lose the phone itself. Lock screens, duress passwords, and even a tamper-proof feature round out the phone’s hardened security features. 

Real security requires a comprehensive response to every conceivable threat, rather than just one or two security features sprinkled on top of a risky platform. 

Don’t trust your digital security to free platforms with a history of violating privacy rights. Thankfully, today’s most secure platforms are also extremely easy for non-tech users to navigate in everyday situations. Look for a platform that ticks off all the above boxes, and you’ll always be connected securely.