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Is Wire App Safe?

Is Wire App Safe?

Laura Martisiute

January 31, 2025

Reading time: 6 minutes

If you use or plan to use the Wire app, you need to know: Is the Wire app safe? 

Below, we explain whether the Wire app is: 

  • Safe to use. 
  • Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this platform. 

What Is the Wire App?

Wire is an end-to-end encrypted messaging and collaboration application. 

Wire app

You can use it for messaging, voice and video calls, conference calls, file sharing, and external collaboration guest rooms that don’t require registration. It is available for both personal and business use. 

The application was co-founded with input from Skype’s co-founder Janus Friis, and many of its early team members previously worked at Skype. 

Wire is available on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers like Chrome and Firefox. You can sync your conversations across devices. 

Is Wire App Safe?

Depends on your definition of “safe” – and who you ask. 

According to Wire themselves, the Wire app has been designed with safety in mind. 

Wire’s communications (e.g., messages, files, conference calls, etc.) are end-to-end encrypted. This means that apart from the individuals who participate in a conversation, no one else can decrypt the information that passes between them. Its encryption doesn’t need to be turned on, either. Instead, it’s always on. 

Each message is encrypted with new keys, which rotate regularly during a call and after a person leaves the conversation. Old keys are deleted when they’re no longer used.

Wire goes into great detail about its use of advanced encryption technologies and security protocols. 

Wire’s source code is open source and available on GitHub for anyone to inspect. 

The company works with independent security experts to audit the app regularly. You can see the latest audits it has undergone on Wire’s website

Wire audits

Wire’s servers are located in Germany and Ireland and hold certifications like ISO 27001, NIST 800-17, etc. 

The company even has a 19-page whitepaper that describes its security measures. 

Wire was previously criticized for storing contact lists in plaintext and sending unhashed passwords to servers, which it has acknowledged and worked to improve.

Wire gets a 3.6 out of 5.0-star rating (from 36.1k ratings and 1m+ downloads) on Google Play and a 3.0 out of 5.0-star rating (from 772 ratings) on the App Store.  

PCMag gives Wire a rating of 3.0 out of a 5.0-star rating. 

No data breaches have been associated with Wire at the time of writing.

Is Wire App Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.” 

All communications on Wire (e.g., text messages, voice and video calls, and files) are protected by end-to-end encryption. This means that only the sender and the intended recipient can decrypt and access the content. Wire does not have access to encryption keys. 

Wire says it only collects essential data it needs to operate the service. 

Which data does Wire need?

Wire temporarily stores encrypted messages on its servers for delivery purposes, but says that this data is deleted immediately after the message is delivered. Metadata is also minimized and secured.

It doesn’t rent or sell your data to third parties or use your data for targeted advertising or profiling.

Wire lets users send self-deleting messages and deactivate read receipts.  

Users who want to learn more about Wire’s privacy practices can read its 5-page whitepaper or its privacy policy

According to a Medium article, in November 2018, Wire changed its privacy policy to say that user data would be accessed and shared only when necessary or required by law. Apparently, users who valued Wire’s initial strict privacy commitments saw this as a betrayal.

In its current privacy policy, Wire says it “will not disclose your data to public authorities unless Wire is required to do so under Swiss law.” 

Wire data disclosure to authorities

Wire briefly relocated its holding from Luxembourg to the US in late 2019, raising concerns about data jurisdiction. It then moved back to Germany in 2020 to address these issues.

Individuals on online forums remain skeptical about just how private Wire really is. 

Wire’s privacy policy has not yet been evaluated by an external privacy review site such as Terms of Service; Didn’t Read at the time of writing.

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Wire App

Follow the below steps for a safer and more private experience when using the Wire app. 

  • Register with a throwaway email. Using a throwaway or masked email address decreases the risk of someone being able to link your Wire account to your primary email. 
  • Create a strong, unique password. Use a strong, unique password for your Wire account. Don’t reuse it elsewhere. 
  • Review and adjust privacy settings. Wire allows you to control who can see your profile information and status. Go to your account settings to limit visibility, adjust who can add you to groups, and control your online presence to maintain more privacy.
  • Turn off read receipts and typing indicators. To further increase your privacy on Wire, you can turn off read receipts and typing indicators in the settings. This prevents other users from knowing when you’ve read their messages or are typing a response. 
  • Enable self-destructing messages. Use the timed message feature to ensure messages disappear after a set period. 
  • Verify key fingerprints. Regularly verify key fingerprints with your contacts to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and ensure the authenticity of your communication partners.
  • Limit personal information in your profile. Avoid sharing unnecessary personal details in your Wire profile, such as your full name, location, or phone number. Use a username or initials instead of your full name to improve your privacy, especially in public or large group conversations.
  • Log out from unused devices. Wire allows you to check which devices are currently logged into your account. Regularly review this list in the account settings and log out of any devices you no longer use or recognize.
  • Be cautious when joining groups. When joining public or large groups on Wire, limit the amount of personal or sensitive information you share. 
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Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
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