Welcome. Your browser tells me that you are in and your unique internet protocol (IP) address is which is enough data for governments and corporations to track your every move online. You should hide this information by using a VPN.
Governments are spying on everyone with their new laws
The Australian government’s brand new metadata retention laws require your mobile phone service provider to keep a record of every one of your text messages for no less than two years. Your text message records will be available to many government investigative, security and law enforcement agencies. Telcos have also warned that these records will now be a honey pot target for sophisticated hackers.
Similar laws apply in other countries including the United States (using a broad interpretation of the Patriot Act) and the United Kingdom.
You should therefore start using a secure messaging app as soon as possible.
How do I choose a secure messaging app?
The key considerations that you should look for when choosing a secure messaging app are:
- it should encrypt your messages so not even the app provider can read them (in case a warrant or court order asked them to hand over your messages)
- it should be cross platform so messages can be sent between iPhones and Android phones
- it should be popular so you family, friends and colleagues are likely to use it (there’s no use being the only one using the app).
So, which secure messaging app should I use?
I’ve tried many, and the one I recommend is Wickr. Why Wickr? Because it meets all the key criteria:
- Wickr encrypts your messagings to protect your privacy from your government, foreign governments and corporations and so not even Wickr can read your messages
- Wickr has both iPhone (iOS) and Android apps so you can send secure private messages between iPhones and Android phones
- Wickr is popular after the Australian Federal Communications Minister revealed he uses Wickr to circumvent his own government’s metadata retention laws!
See the video below of Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Communications Minister revealing how he uses Wickr to avoid the metadata retentions laws.
So, do yourself a favour, get Wickr now and ask your family and friends to start using it too (share this post with them to get them on board).
Click here to get Wickr for Android
or
Click here to get Wickr for iPhone / iOS.
You should also secure your internet browsing habits and file download history using a VPN. Check out my post on how to choose VPN provider by clicking here.