(Hassle-Free Methods on 3 Popular Platforms) Social media and chat apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram have become an integral part of our lives in connecting with our friends and loved ones.
However, have you ever wondered just how secure your data is while using them?
After all, Facebook has been sued for privacy violations and there are speculations about Google selling its users’ data.
If you’re looking for how to start a secret chat and encrypt your messages on each of the three platforms mentioned, you’ve come to the right place, as we’re about to tell you how.
How to Start a Secret Chat and Encrypt Your Messages on Telegram
Chats on Telegram are not end-to-end encrypted by default, which means you have to manually encrypt your messages if you want some privacy. Here’s how to do it on an Android and iOS device.
Enabling the secret chat feature on Android
To start a secret chat on your Android, simply follow these steps:
- Open Telegram
- Go to the intended chat and click on the contact’s name at the top
- Find the three-dotted icon at the top right of your screen, then click on it
- Click on Start Secret Chat
- Confirm the action by clicking Start
After you’ve done all of the steps above, Telegram will take you to a separate chat room in which the secret chat will take place.
The difference between the secret chat and the normal one is the green padlock icon located next to your contact’s name. However, the chat will not be started until the other participant agrees to join the secret chat.
All of the messages in this chat room will be end-to-end encrypted, meaning that no one can see the messages (not even Telegram) but you and the other participant. Telegram will also set a specific timer to delete the messages and no forwarding and screenshot are allowed.
Enabling the secret chat feature on iOS
The steps to start a secret chat and encrypt your messages on iOS are pretty much similar to the Android version, with a little difference:
- Open Telegram
- Go to the intended chat and click on the contact’s name at the top
- Tap More (the three-dotted icon) on the right side of your screen
- Click on Start Secret Chat
- Confirm the action by clicking Start
The only other difference is that, unlike Android, you can still take screenshots of your secret chats on iOS. While the other party will be informed when a screenshot has been taken, there’s no stopping you from doing that.
How to Start a Secret Chat and Encrypt Your Messages on WhatsApp
Unlike Telegram, all chats on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted by default, which means you don’t have to activate the feature on your own. However, just in case, you can make sure your encrypted code is the same as the one on your contact’s phone by doing this:
- Open WhatsApp
- Go to the specific chat and tap the contact’s name at the top
- Scroll down and click on Encryption
Next, a barcode and a list of numbers will be displayed. To verify the end-to-end encryption, scan the barcode on your contact’s phone or just simply ask your contacts for their code numbers and compare it with yours.
How to Start a Secret Chat and Encrypt Your Messages on Facebook Messenger
Similar to Telegram, messages on Facebook Messenger aren’t automatically end-to-end encrypted. Thus, you need to set it up manually, here’s how to do that:
- Open Facebook Messenger
- Click on your contact’s name
- Once you’re in the chat room, tap the profile icon at the top
- Go to More action → Go to secret conversation
After that, you will be taken to a separate secret chat room. Then, you’re required to ask your contacts to enable the secret conversation feature on their devices before you can start sending messages, much like how Telegram’s secret chat operates.
Unlike Telegram, however, you can manually set the timer on Facebook Messenger. When the timer runs out, your messages will automatically disappear.
Takeaway
Now you know how to start a secret chat and encrypt your messages on three of the biggest messengers on today’s market — Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.
If you don’t want any hassle of manually enabling a secret chat, WhatsApp is the platform to go as its conversations are automatically end-to-end encrypted.
However, some of your friends or colleagues may prefer to chat on Telegram or Facebook Messenger. If that’s the case, just simply perform the step-by-step process provided in this article.
Looking for more Telegram privacy hacks? We’ve just published a new article on how to hide last seen on Telegram. Check ‘em out if you doesn’t want to let anyone know when you’re online!
