Cybersecurity data by the Chief Healthcare Executive shows large breaches increased by 239% between 2020 and 2023. Mental health statistics in 2024 show about 19.1% of people above 18 years old experienced anxiety disorder within 2023. These saddening statistics have resulted in a rise in hacker phobia globally.
People with serious hacking anxiety may avoid using the internet and smartphones. Secure messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp are gaining popularity amid this confusion. Both use end-to-end encryption but differ in security features and user trust. Let’s explore which app is better for mental health professionals.
Importance of cybersecurity in mental health therapy
Cases of cybersecurity attacks have greatly increased lately and the number of people dealing with hacking anxiety is rising. Mental health therapists on the other hand handle sensitive data like customer personal information and confidential emotional records. The Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) expects therapists to protect this information from breaches, making proactive data breach detection essential for identifying vulnerabilities before client data is exposed. Secure messaging provides solutions for protecting this data from falling into the wrong hands. Beyond encrypted communication, many professionals are also exploring layered enterprise-grade security solutions that offer umbrella-like protection against cyber threats such as phishing, malware, and DNS-layer attacks—especially when handling sensitive client interactions across multiple devices and locations.
You might want to look at security concerns when comparing Signal vs WhatsApp or Signal vs Telegram. That’s because they all offer end-to-end encryption. Considering Signal vs WhatsApp, Signal might be a better WhatsApp alternative because it does not collect, store, or share user data. Most users may often ask – “is Signal more secure than WhatsApp?” Based on security concerns, Signal stands out as a more secure app. WhatsApp runs messenger and business apps and it is good to compare WhatsApp one check vs two.
Effects of cyber attacks on mental health professionals
Cyber-attacks have short-term and long-term effects on individuals and organizations globally. The effects range from financial to trust, psychological, legal, and data losses. Here are some of the serious consequences of breaches to therapists:
- Business operations could be disrupted causing delays, loss of opportunities, and costly downtime.
- Individuals and organizations could lose data leading to costly recovery methods and repairs.
- Affected entities could face lengthy legal challenges from individuals, organizations, and compliance authorities.
- It could lead to breaches of compromised security and damaged reputation.
- It can cause serious mental health problems like anxiety, stress, and other disorders.
What does WhatsApp offer?
WhatsApp is a secure messaging app owned by Facebook (today’s Meta) and uses end-to-end encryption. The app has its good and bad side especially issues concerning user privacy and data sharing. It has over 2 billion users globally which is the highest user base in messaging apps. This is convenient for therapists since most of their clients are on WhatsApp.
Another good side of this app is end-to-end encryption which ensures communication is secure from both sides. The app also has a group-sharing feature that therapists can use when conducting group therapy. They can use the feature to post videos and share webinars and chats. Therapists can set up their counts for automated backups to the cloud.
WhatsApp has several setbacks which could create loopholes for data hijacking or leaking while in transit. Its cloud backup feature lacks encryption and any malicious person can intercept it in transit. The App shares some information with Meta including contact information and account members.
This information is used for advertising but only benefits Meta and WhatsApp. Although the app is good due to its large user base, its data-sharing practices raise privacy concerns. This can negatively affect therapists since they handle sensitive client data.
What is Signal Messenger?
Signal is another secure messaging app popular for its open-source structure allowing people to improve its code. The app uses end-to-end encryption like WhatsApp which guarantees communication security on both ends. It does not collect user data except phone numbers and does not track communication.
Signal’s messages disappear after some time which is beneficial for therapists due to privacy and security protection. The app does not store user data or share it for commercial use. This makes Signal a trusted app by mental health therapists due to the high level of security it provides users.
Signal vs WhatsApp: Which one should mental health therapists use?
Signal and WhatsApp differ in the way they handle data and privacy security. Signal does not collect data but WhatsApp collects and shares it with Meta for monetary benefits. Therapists are focused more on data privacy since they handle sensitive customer information. Comparing messaging tools alongside a practical cyber essentials checklist helps professionals evaluate whether an app aligns with required privacy, encryption, and compliance standards.
They require an app that provides encryption and advanced data security. WhatsApp has a larger user base which is convenient for therapists. Both apps use end-to-end encryption which is also excellent. When considering privacy concerns, therapists may favor Signal above WhatsApp.
Conclusion
Mental health professionals might have the daunting task of deciding whether to use Signal or WhatsApp messaging apps. The best way to compare them is to focus on security and privacy concerns. Both apps provide end-to-end encryption but Signal does not share user data. WhatsApp is widely used by over 2 billion people but shares data for commercial goals. Considering data security and privacy, mental health experts might consider adopting Signal over WhatsApp.
