If you're still not certain, you could check to see if your phone is rooted (Fyi, it shouldn't be rooted/jailbreaked) and you could also download NoRootFirewall to see which apps are sending/receiving data.
Have you tried running an antivirus scan thru the built-in Android AV, Kaspersky and Malwarebytes? Second, have you reviewed your app permissions? Which ones have access to the mic, camera, location, etc? Review that, and also, can you figure out at what time you gave someone the opportunity to install spyware/spouseware? Did your PIN code get compromised by someone looking over your shoulder? When you first got your phone, did you open it and set it up yourself? Or did you leave your unlocked phone alone with someone with enough time to install malicious apps on it? it's recommended by PrivacyTools.io, and it's E2E encrypted. If you want actual privacy, Signal would be highly recommended. "No matter what?" You betcha I'm gonna try it out and use it where it makes sense.įyi, phone calls and text messages have no privacy whatsoever. So if you expect to write privately with someone about secret matters that you don't want any other party knowing anything about- your best option is Signal (or talking 1-to-1 at the back of some shady joint), and you have that option! If, on the other hand you'd like to explore what the latest in AI tech can give you, why not try out Allo? I honestly don't get all the complaining and the noise and the clickbait title. Of course your data that you use it with will have to be analyzed in order to develop and improve the AI. This makes it perfectly reasonable as an app and as a product for users that know exactly what they are getting. Allo is meant to be a showcase of Google's AI capabilities, and as such has a few shortcomings as a messenger (no web UI, only one device, etc.) Sure, you have the option to run incognito chats which uses the same algorithms as Signal, but then you can't get the benefit of the AI, which naturally means that that will not be your default mode of operation. There are many others that are already made and quite useful ( Signal). I'm so glad I don't have to see that shit anymore.Īllo is not meant to be a private messaging app.
PS: My personal opinion is that Facebook news feed is the most unhealthy platform when it comes to mental health related issues. Nobody is as happy as their social accounts tell us about them. These social media apps give us an illusion of happiness it's almost always about showcasing your best features to your "friends" while actively hiding away from your flaws. I feel so much better since leaving Facebook and I certainly don't see myself joining it back in the future. I'm very much satisfied with it.ĭo I regret my decision? Absolutely not. It's very secure and has no features for status, profile pic, blue tick, and last seen. I made some of my friends join the app and today I have 30 friends using the app. The two apps seemed like a constant piss battle of who is happiest among my friends.Īround a year back I opted out of Facebook and Whatsapp in successive months.Īt first, I felt disconnected but used e-mails, google+, and skype till I stumbled across Signal Private Messenger. I opted out of Instagram and Snapchat around 2 years ago. Private, secure, instant messaging // SMS support // Material design Check it out and give it a spin, I really think this should be the next big thing in text communications. The app works great, but the primary feature of messages over data only works if other people have the app. The Challenge The drawback of course is getting other people to use it, which is partly why I'm writing this post. Other cool features: private phone calls with other Signal users, and an upcoming Chrome companion app to text from the desktop. If the recipient doesn't have Signal, the text will send as regular SMS. The kicker for me is that it runs on the TextSecure protocol, so all messages are encrypted and private. What's so great about it? It's iMessage for Android! Like Hangouts and iMessage, it sends messages over WiFi or cellular data, so you can still send texts without cellular reception. So you can send normal SMS messages to contacts without the app, or Signal messages to those who do have it. What is it? Signal is on one hand an excellent SMS client (material design, quick reply, color-assigned contacts), but also a private IM service. Signal Private Messenger was released this week for Android, complementing its iOS companion.