Botha, Johannes GVan ‘t Wout, Magdalena CLeenen, L2019-09-262019-09-262019-07Botha, J.G., Van ‘t Wout, M.C. and Leenen, L. 2019. A comparison of chat applications in terms of security and privacy. 18th European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security, University of Coimbra, Portugal, 4-5 July 2019978-1-912764-29-7http://www.academic-bookshop.com/ourshop/prod_6812197-ECCWS-2019-Proceedings-of-the-18th-European-Conference-on-Cyber-Warfare-and-Security-PRINT-VERSION.htmlhttps://www.academic-conferences.org/conferences/eccws/eccws-future-and-past/http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11140Due to copyright restrictions, the attached PDF file only contains the preprint version of the published full text item. Kindly contact the publishers for access to the published version: http://www.academic-bookshop.com/ourshop/prod_6812197-ECCWS-2019-Proceedings-of-the-18th-European-Conference-on-Cyber-Warfare-and-Security-PRINT-VERSION.htmlMobile messaging or chat Applications (Apps) have gained increasing popularity over the past decade. Large amounts of data are being transmitted over the internet when people make use of these Apps. Metadata and personal information are being collected and stored every day while consumers are seeking protection against surveillance as well as against attacks from hackers. There are countless Apps available but some are leading the way in popularity, platform availability and features. WhatsApp, one of the leading Apps, revealed in 2016 that it had more than one billion users. In March 2016, WikiLeaks released information that the CIA was able to bypass all security systems of both WhatsApp and Signal, another popular App, to read user messages. WikiLeaks also revealed that the CIA makes use of malware and hacking tools that allow them to remotely hack into smartphones. In 2017, a Guardian report indicated that Facebook, WhatsApp’s parent company, could read encrypted messages due to a certain vulnerability found in the App. In terms of security, it is important to distinguish pure secure messaging Apps from the ones who are less secure and trustworthy. This paper compares the best and the supposedly most secure messaging Apps based on the built-in security and privacy features of the Apps, as well as the location and subsequent accessibility of stored data. Recommendations and best practice advisements for users are made on which Apps seem to be the most secure and private.enChat app feature comparisonChat app data storage securityCybersecurityMessage encryptionPrivacyConference PresentationBotha, J. G., Van ‘t Wout, Magdalena C, & Leenen, L. (2019). A comparison of chat applications in terms of security and privacy. Academic Conferences and Publishing International. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11140Botha, Johannes G, Van ‘t Wout, Magdalena C, and L Leenen. "A comparison of chat applications in terms of security and privacy." (2019): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11140Botha JG, Van ‘t Wout, Magdalena C, Leenen L, A comparison of chat applications in terms of security and privacy; Academic Conferences and Publishing International; 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11140 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Botha, Johannes G AU - Van ‘t Wout, Magdalena C AU - Leenen, L AB - Mobile messaging or chat Applications (Apps) have gained increasing popularity over the past decade. Large amounts of data are being transmitted over the internet when people make use of these Apps. Metadata and personal information are being collected and stored every day while consumers are seeking protection against surveillance as well as against attacks from hackers. There are countless Apps available but some are leading the way in popularity, platform availability and features. WhatsApp, one of the leading Apps, revealed in 2016 that it had more than one billion users. In March 2016, WikiLeaks released information that the CIA was able to bypass all security systems of both WhatsApp and Signal, another popular App, to read user messages. WikiLeaks also revealed that the CIA makes use of malware and hacking tools that allow them to remotely hack into smartphones. In 2017, a Guardian report indicated that Facebook, WhatsApp’s parent company, could read encrypted messages due to a certain vulnerability found in the App. In terms of security, it is important to distinguish pure secure messaging Apps from the ones who are less secure and trustworthy. This paper compares the best and the supposedly most secure messaging Apps based on the built-in security and privacy features of the Apps, as well as the location and subsequent accessibility of stored data. Recommendations and best practice advisements for users are made on which Apps seem to be the most secure and private. DA - 2019-07 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Chat app feature comparison KW - Chat app data storage security KW - Cybersecurity KW - Message encryption KW - Privacy LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2019 SM - 978-1-912764-29-7 T1 - A comparison of chat applications in terms of security and privacy TI - A comparison of chat applications in terms of security and privacy UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11140 ER -