10 Most Secure Social Media Platforms Today

10 Most Secure Social Media Platforms Today

Social media platforms, either for messaging, streaming, blogging, or a mix of all, have taken the world. Most people have at least one account on a certain platform, and most of us have several.

While the proliferation of social media brought us multiple advantages, as well as totally new industries and professions, there are also some risks. The exposure we get from sharing content, commenting, and messaging can also be noticed by hackers, stalkers, and identity thieves.

The two ways we can combat these risks are with improving both our cybersecurity and our cyber hygiene. By modifying our behavior to keep essential information hidden even when using social media, we can prevent outright intrusions to our personal life. This will also prevent more severe consequences like doxxing or swatting.

As for the cybersecurity, we must make sure that whichever platform we use works well with our VPN. There should be no unnecessary data being sent from our device to the social media server. Premium VPN providers like Le VPN will protect our devices with encryption and block any hacks on the way. But, nothing can save us if we share data online in plain text.

Le VPN also has apps for iOS and Android, protecting both your mobile devices as well as those at home.

Social Media, Messengers, and Video Platforms

10 Most Secure Social Media Platforms Today. | Le VPN

All social media platforms can be categorized into three distinct groups, all of which have security advantages and security risks. Additionally, the most popular platforms usually combine multiple features, making them exceptionally risky.

The biggest group are the messaging platforms, which are quite different than regular Short Message Systems (SMS) that we used in the past. Apps like Telegram or WhatsApp host features like group-chats or broadcasting to your contacts. While for prudent users, this makes it easier to connect to people, those who are not careful about sharing their phone number might find themselves hacked.

The second group are the blogging and micro-blogging platforms, like Twitter or Reddit. While these platforms are notorious for garnering hackers and doxxers, it is also possible to remain completely anonymous. This adds to security if you have a good VPN provider, but you will need one that is made with your OS in mind.

Having a Mac VPN or a Windows VPN is essential for good security and a stable connection.

Finally, there are video streaming platforms like YouTube, where there are few creators but a lot of commenters.  Here the rules vary significantly depending on which group you find yourself in. Those commenting will usually see little risk of being hacked, especially if their IP address is masked, but creators need to take good care about their cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Risks for Social Media Platforms

There are two ways for your data to be collected through social media: the easy way, and the hard way.

The hard way is a direct hack on your connection or your device. If the hacker knows your IP address and your name, they will be able to find exactly who you are. And if they know your primary phone number on top of your IP address, you are as good as hacked. These types of hacks are why you should use a VPN on all devices where you have social media.

But, there is a much easier way to make ourselves victims of data theft or even identity theft. Sharing our phone number used for two-factor authentication, as well as our private info directly can cost us dearly, there is no cost for the hacker just to ask.

Always be skeptical about sketchy profiles where you don’t know the users in person. There is a great chance that a hacker is hiding behind a catfish, and these skilled manipulators know how to play with people’s emotions and expectations.

The general rule of the Internet is: If something sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is fake.

How to Assess Security?

While assessing all of the security practices for a company are next to impossible, we can use some visible signs to know if a platform is secure and to which extent.

Primarily, there are technical features used by social media sites. Encoding and encryption will usually be shown on the platform’s specifications or in the developer console when you are connected on your desktop or laptop. Those with a bit of technical know-how can find if their data is being encrypted through the browser or not.

If you are using social media exclusively through the app on your mobile devices, you will need to rely on the reputation of the social networking sites. Also, you can use reports from other social media users.

If you notice that the social media platform you are using leaked millions of user records in the last few years, such as the case with Facebook, you will know to be more prudent on that site. Leaks and hacks don’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use the site, just that you shouldn’t give your personal information.

Being anonymous, both via a VPN and by using aliases and avatars, is the key to being safe online.

The Top List

There is no such thing as a perfectly safe social network, but there are those that support active users in their privacy concerns. While other social media platforms could have found their way on the list, they are either too obscure to adequately assess or are too small to prevent a large scale hack.

While it is not a rule for a good platform to be a tech giant in its own right, a social networking platform that is both useful and secure would find its way to fame and fortune quite quickly.

#10 Skype

First, but by far the least compared to others on this list. While Skype has a solid cybersecurity framework and a robust networking apparatus, it hasn’t gone with the times. This type of solution would be remarkable for a small company, but not an experienced multi-billion dollar company such as Microsoft.

The calls are relatively easy, and the settings do use some extended security features from Windows 10, but there is no P2P encryption. Additionally, all communication goes through Microsoft servers, which are a weak point in this case.

Thankfully, by using Skype with a VPN, you can secure your own system and devices, but the communication can still be interrupted from the other side, or directly from the server.

Security Pros:

  • Uses Windows 10 security features
  • Easy to view
  • Supports VPN and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • No P2P Encryption
  • Server-based
  • Collects meta-data

#9 Facebook

Facebook is a social networking platform that cybersecurity experts love to hate, and not without reason. The tech giant has leaked millions of social media accounts on several occasions in the last few years, mostly due to negligence.

The security features of this popular social networking app are not bad by all accounts, but they are suffering from the rule of large numbers. There are so many people using Facebook, and so many people employed in the company, that a fluke is bound to happen.

Additionally, the site is blocked in some regions, and users will need to use VPN to unblock Facebook. On the same note, even users in regions where it is not blocked should use it to mask their IP address. This is especially true if they are trying out influencer marketing and getting their name and brand out there.

Security Pros:

  • Almost impossible to brute-force hack
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Regular customer support
  • Supports VPN and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • A lot of third-party contributors
  • Constant data collection
  • Multiple leaks in the past

#8 VKontakte

Vkontakte, often abbreviated just as VK, is a Russian social media app quite similar to Facebook. This similarity can be seen both in the user interface of the app and the security underneath.

The main benefits of VK over Facebook is that it is not as popular social media site (except for Russia) as its American counterpart. Also, good portions of the code underneath are coded in Russian Cyrillic. While this doesn’t improve the security of the website directly, it does lower the number of people capable of cracking or misusing the code. There is also a smaller chance of a hacker fooling anyone from the development customer support center.

Security Pros:

  • Almost impossible to brute-force hack
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Regular customer support
  • Supports VPN and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • Constant data collection
  • Unknown relationship to the RF government

#7 LinkedIn

Although the media accounts on LinkedIn are gauged towards business more than social issues and chatting, it is still a group of like-minded people who like to share their experiences. In many places, and especially tech companies, a LinkedIn account is used instead of a CV.

As the platform is mostly focused on user-generated content regarding business and marketing, several security features are not included in networking. Primarily, there is no encrypted messaging, as well as the possibility to use aliases.

Security Pros:

  • Not enticing to hackers
  • Good customer support
  • Seamless support for VPN for both Mobile and Desktop

Security Cons:

  • No Encryption
  • No Anonymity
  • Delicate data used for verification

#6 Instagram

This social media platform is the main base of all influencers, and people living utterly fake lives. Ironically, even though most people share hundreds of images of their face, their home, and their daily routine on this site, there is a huge option for privacy.

Namely, messages going through the Instagram servers are encrypted and unavailable to access directly from Facebook’s (Instagram’s owner) developer side. So, Zucc can’t actually see when you are sliding into the DMs.

Additionally, if you are using a VPN, there will be no trace of the uploading geo-tag on your images.

Finally, if you are trying to be an influencer, you are probably already following one of the main tips of cyber hygiene, and that is creating a fake internet persona.

Security Pros:

  • Message encryption
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Regular customer support
  • Supports VPN and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • Multiple third-party contributors
  • Constant data collection
  • Parent company data leaks

#5 YouTube

YouTube is the only one of Google’s social media platforms that have survived to this day, now operating as a separate entity inside Alphabet Inc.

If you are just a member of the audience, YouTube can be perfectly safe to use. As it no longer requires a connected Google+ account to access, the amount of data you need to leave is minimal.

If you are a content creator, your life will not be easy as if you were any media personality, and certain steps should be taken to protect yourself. Generally, not disclosing more personal information than absolutely necessary should be enough.

While there are multiple security features installed, you will still be sharing both your personal details and your banking information with the platform. Because of this data, you will need to practice excellent cyber hygiene and have a good cybersecurity system installed.

Security Pros:

  • Minimal user data requirements
  • Good security features
  • Protected user-generated content
  • Seamless support for VPN and Anti-Spyware

Security Cons:

  • Huge creator data requirements
  • Banking information detail
  • Constant user data collection

#4 Twitter

While micro-blogging social networks such as Twitter don’t require a lot of data to sign up and use, there are a lot of third-party plugin options inside Twitter that do.

The level of security for users will depend on their level of use. It is advised for anyone to be as anonymous as possible on Twitter for both technical and social reasons. As the discussions on the platform are quite flammable, multiple users have reported being doxxed or even swatted.

Thankfully, if you are using Le VPN, you will be able to regularly change your location, which can be tracked through the tweets, and thus conceal both your IP and your whereabouts.

Security Pros:

  • Possible complete anonymity
  • Robust security on the servers
  • Complete support for VPN, Anti-Spyware, and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • No encryption
  • Lacking good customer support
  • Frequent targeting

#3 Reddit

As there were several incidents in the past with this popular social platform, several features were introduced to increase both the safety and the anonymity of their active users.

Primarily, there is almost no data collection on the website. While you need to use your email, there is no need for it to be a primary email or one connected to a phone number. This means that even if there are leaks, not much can be found.

Additionally, there is the recognizable social karma feature that shows if the users exhibited toxic behavior before, lowering the chance of mobs forming over wrongful information.

Security Pros:

  • Very low user data requirements
  • Robust security on servers
  • Native security features
  • Good moderation
  • Complete support for VPN, Anti-Spyware, and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • No native encryption

#2 WhatsApp

Vying for the title of the best messaging app between social media platforms, WhatsApp doesn’t share any of the flaws present with its parent company Facebook.

First of all, WhatsApp doesn’t have any central server, and all communication is conducted P2P, with an excellent P2P connection. While the data is stored in the devices, it is not present anywhere else on the Internet.

Additionally, you need a personal phone number to add someone on WhatsApp. This makes it impossible for someone to pretend that they are one of your friends or family members.

Security Pros:

  • Excellent P2P encryption
  • Native security features
  • Possible complete anonymity
  • No information collection
  • Complete support for VPN, Anti-Spyware, and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • Uses a phone number
  • No oversight
  • No moderation for content

#1 Telegram

Telegram is a strange messaging app, as it is a mix between the user interface of Facebook messenger and the security features of WhatsApp. This combination makes it a superior social networking platform overall, as it has better oversight than WhatsApp.

It has an excellent P2P encryption and offers complete anonymity for those who want it.

Telegram also requires a phone number to verify your account, but once you are connected, you will not need that number anymore. This means that you can easily apply for the app using Google Voice or a number from Burner.com or just a burner SIM card if you have those available in your region.

Security Pros:

  • No personal data requirements
  • Excellent P2P encryption
  • Native security features
  • Possible complete anonymity
  • No information collection
  • Complete support for VPN, Anti-Spyware, and Anti-Virus

Security Cons:

  • Needs a phone number to verify
  • No oversight
  • No moderation for content

Don’t Trust Anyone

There is a saying that the Internet is a place where men are men, women are men, and 12-year-old girls are FBI agents. While this is a joke, and those agents are from the NSA, it is indeed very easy to fake your identity online.

In the same way you are safeguarding yourself with an anonymous account, someone else could do it as well. But, people can also use full sets of data to make you believe that they are a real person on the other side.

Whenever you are using social media platforms, always use a VPN, and never speak with strangers about your personal life. Keep places, names, and relationships to yourself, as you might be feeding a cybercriminal with data.

Conclusion

Most articles you will find about any social media websites and apps, and which focus on cybersecurity, would be fairly negative. But, this doesn’t mean that you should stop using these platforms.

What you should do instead is to invest in a premium VPN provider and diligently practice cyber hygiene. By using Le VPN you can mask your IP address with that of servers from around the world, and with a bit of imagination, you can make an online persona for you to go online without anyone knowing who you are or any other data about yo

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Written by Vuk Mujović @VukMujovic

Vuk Mujović is the founder of MacTíre Consulting, an analyst, data management expert, and a long-term writer on all things business & tech. He authored blogs, articles, and opinion pieces aimed to help both companies and individuals achieve growth without compromising their security. Vuk is a regular guest author to Le VPN Blog since January 2018, where he gives his expert opinion on the topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, online freedom, and personal data protection. He also often shares his tips and best practices in relation to internet security and digital safety of private individuals and small businesses, including some additional applications of using a VPN service.

Comments (8)

  • Toby Cumberbatch

    What about Signal???

  • Lynette

    Now i am worried, i thought i was paying Le VPN a monthly subscription.?
    I was originally with MPN and transferred over.
    PLEASE REASSURE ME.

    • Romain Malburet

      Hello Lynette,
      We just sent you an email regarding your concerns.
      Regards,
      Le VPN Team

  • barbara

    I asked my question but couldn’t seem to send it! It was is hangouts safe!

  • Verna Dematteis

    Before its gone forever

  • Dos

    BOOOOOO!!!!! Secure… you’re going to call Twitter and Facebook SECURE? I hear FB exposed something like 78,000 user’s information not long ago…. and those two platforms are the MOST NOTORIOUS for spying on people and CENSORING them. Get real.

  • Shananne

    Facebook is far from secure! They have absolutely no customer support once your account is hacked. Even if the account includes business pages. You can send multiple emails, no responses. Police, Attorney Generals, and Consumer Fraud devisions can not help you in preventing fraud from hacked accounts because Facebook will not respond to them either. You get enough friends to report your hacked profile; it may come down. But your business pages stay up. If the hacker has changed your name, Facebooks automated computer generated response usually states that they see no problem with the profile and don’t go against community standards. Their system for uploading identification such as drivers license has no validation either. No one verifies that it was actually received by Facebook. No corrections to hack accounts, no verifications of receiving emails requesting support, receiving Ids, no responses from actual people to fix problems.

  • Sunnyt

    Facebook is far from secure! I was hijacked, made a new account and was hacked in less than three days! Never again!!!

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