Survey Report on Two Internet Messengers

1. WhatsApp

• Usage:
WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging applications worldwide, with over 2
billion users. It is designed to facilitate seamless communication between individuals and
teams, whether for personal chatting or business communication. WhatsApp supports text
messages, voice and video calls, group chats, file transfers, and multimedia messages
(photos, videos, audio). Users can create groups with up to 256 members, and businesses can
use WhatsApp Business to provide customer service.
• Advantages:
1. End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): WhatsApp uses the Signal Protocol for end-to-end
encryption, ensuring that messages are fully encrypted between the sender and receiver. Even
if the message is intercepted during transmission, no third party (including WhatsApp itself)
can read the content. This feature is especially crucial for protecting user communication
privacy in today’s mobile-dependent society.
2. User-Friendly: WhatsApp has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy for both
younger and older users to navigate. This advantage has made it one of the most widely used
instant messaging tools globally. Users only need a phone number to register, eliminating the
need to create additional accounts or passwords.
3. Rich Multimedia Features: WhatsApp supports various message formats, including voice
messages, photos, videos, location sharing, and file transfers. It also supports high-definition
video and voice calls, meeting the diverse needs of modern communication.
• Disadvantages:
1. Phone Number Dependency: WhatsApp requires a phone number for registration, which
may raise privacy concerns, especially in situations where users need to share their phone
numbers.
2. Cloud Backup is Not Encrypted: While WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for
conversations, if users choose to back up their chat history to Google Drive or iCloud, these
backups are not encrypted, which could pose a potential security risk.
3. Mobile Connection Dependency: WhatsApp’s desktop version (WhatsApp Web) requires
synchronization with the phone and for the phone to remain connected to the internet, making
the desktop experience less flexible compared to Telegram’s multi-device sync feature.
• Protocol Used:
WhatsApp uses a proprietary protocol based on XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence
Protocol) for message delivery, combined with the Signal Protocol for encryption.
WhatsApp’s messaging transmission architecture is highly complex, with the Signal Protocol
ensuring the security of communications by leveraging advanced encryption technologies to
protect user privacy.
• Security Protection Scheme:
WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption is provided by the Signal Protocol. Each conversation is
secured with a unique encryption key, and these keys are not stored on WhatsApp’s servers.
Additionally, WhatsApp uses Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) to ensure that each
communication session generates independent encryption keys, so even if one key is
compromised, past conversations remain secure. WhatsApp also offers Two-Step Verification
as an added layer of protection for user accounts, preventing unauthorized logins.

2. Telegram

• Usage:
Telegram is an instant messaging application known for its speed and security, with over 500
million users worldwide. It supports cross-platform synchronization, allowing users to access
messages across multiple devices without relying on a single device. Telegram’s key features
include support for large-scale groups (up to 200,000 members), channels, secret chats, and
the ability to transfer various file formats. It is especially popular among users concerned
with privacy and community managers who operate large groups.
• Advantages:
1. Multi-Device Sync: Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram stores messages in the cloud, which
allows users to access their chats on any device without needing their phone to remain
connected. This greatly enhances usability and flexibility.
2. Large Groups and Channels: Telegram supports groups with up to 200,000 members and
offers robust management tools such as message pinning, setting rules, and managing admin
permissions. These features make it ideal for managing large communities. Channels allow
one-way broadcast messages, making Telegram an excellent tool for sharing news or updates
to a wide audience.
3. Secret Chats and Self-Destruct Messages: Telegram offers a Secret Chat mode with end-
to-end encryption and supports self-destruct messages, allowing users to set a time limit for
messages to be automatically deleted after reading, further protecting privacy.
• Disadvantages:
1. No Default End-to-End Encryption: Unless users opt for Secret Chats, regular Telegram
conversations only use server-side encryption, meaning messages are stored on Telegram’s
servers, potentially posing a data security risk.
2. Privacy Policy Controversies: Due to Telegram’s servers being spread across various
countries, some users have expressed concerns about the transparency of its privacy policies
and the location of data storage.
 • Protocol Used:
Telegram uses its proprietary MTProto Protocol, a custom encryption protocol designed for
fast and secure message transmission. MTProto employs AES-256 symmetric encryption,
RSA 2048 encryption, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange to ensure the confidentiality and
integrity of transmitted messages. This protocol is designed to balance message transmission
speed and security, especially in large group and channel environments.
• Security Protection Scheme:
Telegram’s standard security includes server-side encryption for regular chats and end-to-end
encryption for Secret Chats. Telegram’s security features also include self-destruct messages,
allowing users to set messages to automatically delete after a certain time. While group and
channel messages do not use end-to-end encryption, Telegram’s MTProto protocol still
ensures high security on the server-side.

Detailed Comparative Analysis:

1. Security:
In terms of security, WhatsApp uses the Signal Protocol to provide end-to-end encryption for
all communications by default. Telegram, on the other hand, only offers end-to-end
encryption for Secret Chats, while regular chats use server-side encryption. Therefore,
WhatsApp offers a broader level of encryption protection by default.
2. Multi-Device Sync:
Telegram’s major advantage lies in its cloud-based sync feature, allowing users to access
messages on multiple devices without the need for constant connection to a phone. In
contrast, WhatsApp relies on mobile connection to sync with the desktop app, making it less
flexible than Telegram.
3. Group and Channel Features:
Telegram outperforms WhatsApp in managing groups and channels, offering tools that can
handle large-scale operations with up to 200,000 members. These advanced features make
Telegram the preferred platform for community management, whereas WhatsApp’s group
functionality is simpler and more suited for small groups.

References to PDF Figures:

1. WhatsApp’s End-to-End Encryption: Page 37 of the PDF mentions “encryption and data
integrity” in the context of application-layer protocols, which relates to WhatsApp’s use
of the Signal Protocol to secure communications. This technology ensures the
confidentiality and integrity of messages in transmission.
2.
Telegram’s MTProto Protocol: Page 36 of the PDF discusses the use of proprietary protocols
in applications, which corresponds to Telegram’s MTProto Protocol. This protocol plays a
critical role in ensuring secure message transmission, balancing both speed and security.

Conclusion:

This report provides a detailed comparison of WhatsApp and Telegram, analyzing their
usage, advantages, disadvantages, protocols, security protection schemes. WhatsApp stands
out in terms of security with default end-to-end encryption, while Telegram excels with its
flexible multi-device sync and advanced group management features. Users should choose
the app that best meets their communication and privacy needs.