Alternative Archives - How to Blog

The best alternative to WhatsApp in 2022

June 14, 2022 by feecalculator_x6rbod

The best alternative to WhatsApp in 2022.

Want an alternative to whatsapp? Whether you’re looking for a security-focused chat app or unique features that Whatsapp doesn’t have, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Messaging apps have proven more important than ever during the pandemic, so abandoning them is out of the question. We have found the best WhatsApp alternatives for you.

Please note that some of the following chat apps may be restricted in your region. To bypass geo-blocking, you will need a VPN. You can use a VPN to connect to apps available in other countries, just like you can change your Netflix region.

1. Telegram

Telegram has become popular relatively recently, although it has existed since 2013. It was developed in Russia where it quickly became a popular messaging app. Telegram supports text, images, documents, videos, and third-party bots with or without AI features.

Telegram also has a secret mode that will allow you to send encrypted messages. This variant of “secret chats” uses the MTProto encryption service. This means that your secret conversation will not be stored in the cloud.

Telegram works on Android and iOS operating systems, and is also available in web browsers.

2. Threema

Threema is a messaging app that guarantees the safety and anonymity of your chats. If you think that WhatsApp might have security issues, this app might be perfect for you. Threema encrypts all your data, including shared files, status updates and all messages.

Threema does not have voice or video chats, although you can send multimedia messages, including voice and video. This app does not collect metadata and offers an encrypted backup option. You can link this app to your phone number or email address so people can find you, but it’s not necessary if you prefer to remain anonymous.

The application’s transparent privacy policy is influenced by the fact that Threema is an open source project. This messaging app is available for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux, and is also available on the web.

3. Skype

Skype has long been a popular messaging app for businesses and families. This is a classic from Microsoft that can’t go wrong when it comes to video calls and voice chats, and it’s best suited for international calls. The sound and video quality is amazing, and there is even an option for group calls and group chats. In addition, you can record your Skype calls.

The group call feature is what made Skype so famous as a business messaging app. But if you have a large family or a large group of friends, this app will help you stay connected.

However, Skype has a downside and that is security. It is generally a secure application with strong encryption, but it does not have any eavesdropping protection.

4. Wire

Wire is another open source messaging application developed in Switzerland. This is a new application that works across multiple messaging platforms and supports text and multimedia messages, voice chats and video calls. The sound quality is of a high standard and the user interface has a stylish, elegant and fresh design.

While several security flaws were discovered in Wire in 2016, the developers have been hard at work ever since to make their app one of the most secure messaging apps out there. End-to-end encryption is guaranteed not only for text messages, but also for file sharing and conferences. Wire offers additional security features for enterprises and government organizations.

5. Facebook Messenger

If you’re looking for a messaging platform as popular as WhatsApp, you should consider Facebook Messenger (unless you want to sign out of Facebook). After all, it has about 1.5 billion users. This app has everything from text messages, file sharing, video and audio calls to group chats and features like sending pictures and stickers.

Keep in mind that if you want secure and private messaging, Facebook isn’t perfect for obvious reasons. The company scans files and text that you send and receive.

Facebook Messenger is available for both Android and iOS, and you can use it through the web version of Facebook. It also has a desktop version that works with Windows, Linux and macOS.

6. Viber

Viber was designed to provide VoIP services to its users, but over time the app has grown to include voice calls, text messaging, group chats, and synced desktop and mobile apps. However, Viber still only works if it’s linked to your phone number.

Viber uses end-to-end encryption, like many other messaging platforms. What makes this app stand out are the augmented reality selfie lenses developed in collaboration with Snapchat. You will also be able to make group calls with Viber and use their Communities feature.

Viber is free to use, but they sell sticker packs. They also offer a Viber Out subscription that will allow you to make unlimited international calls for $6 per month.

7. Discord

Discord started out as a chat platform for gamers. Now it hosts many servers that will allow you to interact with people who share your interests. But this mobile and desktop messaging platform also has a DM feature to send private messages. Plus, if you buy Discord Nitro for $9.99/month, you can upload larger files, HD screen sharing and streaming, and emoji enhancements.

Discord will let you share files with your contact list, but be aware that the free version has an 8MB upload limit. When you initiate a video or voice call via Discord, you will also have the option to share your screen.

Another benefit is that the app can integrate with Spotify, Youtube, Reddit, Xbox Live, Twitch, Steam, Battle.net, Facebook, Twitter, and GitHub. Discord can handle most of your messaging needs.

8. Kik

Kik is a messaging service with a social network vibe. It has all the usual features like text messages, audio and video chats, GIFs, memes and stickers. You can also find group chats with predefined topics for discussion. With Kik, you can meet new people or stay in touch only with your old friends.

Kik is a free and fast messaging app that handles group chats surprisingly well. The best part is that you don’t need a phone number to use this app, you can sign in using your email address. This makes Kik a good choice for people who are not comfortable sharing their numbers with others.

Kik is available for iPhone, Android devices and PC.

9. WeChat

Originally launched in 2011 under the name Weixin, the Chinese instant messaging app was renamed WeChat just a year later. WeChat is a social networking app that offers conferencing, gaming, and geotagging features in addition to regular messaging.

However, WeChat is not as popular outside of China, although anyone can use it. Perhaps this is because, unlike WhatsApp, it allows ads. Another issue with this messaging app is that many people have expressed concerns about data privacy. Third parties may monitor private conversations through this app, including the governments of the US, Taiwan, and India. WeChat is already known to censor important social and political issues in China.

10. Signal

If you’re looking for a safe and secure alternative to WhatsApp, Signal is for you. All traffic passing through this application is encrypted. In addition, the application does not keep any logs of its users and uses SSL/TLS protocols.

Signal is designed for secure messaging. You can even send self-destructing messages. The only downside is that it will ask you to enter your phone number to sign in, so Signal isn’t ideal if you want to remain anonymous.

Signal has a very user-friendly interface that won’t scare off the most technophobic people. It also has a Chrome plugin so you can use your computer for messaging. This is a free chat app developed by a non-profit organization. It was created by cryptography expert and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, who turned down a relationship with Facebook because he didn’t like the company’s vision of what WhatsApp should be.

11. iMessage

iMessage is a good WhatsApp alternative, but only for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can use it to send SMS messages to all phone numbers, no matter what app the recipients are using.

Like many other apps, iMessage supports text, video, and audio messages (but not video or audio calls), as well as group calls, GIFs, and images. In some countries, Apple Pay is available through this app.

In terms of security, Apple is true to its policy of not allowing governments backdoor access to iMessage. Your messages will be safe as long as others don’t have access to your iCloud backups.

12. Slack

A searchable log of all conversations and knowledge, or Slack for short, is a messaging platform specifically designed for work environments. It is convenient for groups and teams to communicate without using phone numbers or email. The older generation will appreciate the many IRC-like features of this app, such as private groups, chats or channels, and direct messaging.

The platform has been recently redesigned, making it very simple and user friendly. You can share files via Slack, but you can also search for content, people, and old conversations. It also supports emojis and GIFs to spice up your conversations and prank your digital cooler.

What makes this messaging platform great even for users outside of the workplace is its accessibility. Not only does it come as an app for iOS and Android phones, but it can also be downloaded for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also has a web browser version and you can even install it on your Apple Watch.

13. Wickr Me

With Wickr Me, you can sync your messages across all your devices. But the most attractive feature of this messaging app is that you can set an expiration date for all your messages, be it text, images, or videos. And that’s not the only security feature it has. It also provides localized encryption and a separate key for each new message.

In addition to excellent security features, Wickr Me promises complete anonymity to its users and removes all metadata from all content sent through the app. With the launch of the desktop version in 2014, Wickr Me is available for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux.

What’s Your Favorite WhatsApp Alternative?

There are so many chat apps out there that it’s hard to keep track of them all. So let us know in the comments below what is your favorite WhatsApp alternative and what makes it so great.

The best alternative to WhatsApp in 2022

Best Alternative to YNAB and Mint – A Review

September 26, 2021 by feecalculator_x6rbod

Best Alternative to YNAB and Mint – A Review.

Personal Capital is a website and app (Android, Apple) offering financial management tools and asset management services. While we have never paid for investment advice at Personal Capital, we have been using their free tools for several years now.

You don’t have to be a fat cat to use the free Personal Capital tools. In fact, gaining control over your personal finances is the first step towards financial independence.

You already know that we are big fans of You Need a Budget because it is a great tool for budgeting the money you already have. However, when it comes to long-term planning, we use Personal Capital.

Tools You Get With Personal Capital

After you create your free Personal Capital account and add all your financial accounts, you will see a dashboard with a quick overview of your finances.

In addition, you will have access to the Banking, Investing, Planning and Wealth Management sections of the website.

The Personal Capital Dashboard

Each section of the Personal Capital dashboard contains a quick overview and a link for more details.

Net Worth

Personal Capital tracks your net worth across all your accounts, assets, and liabilities. Click on the Net Worth link in the dashboard for a more detailed chart. You can specify a time period and include or exclude certain accounts.

Below the chart, you will see a list of transactions included in the net worth calculation. Drill down by selecting a category, such as Cash, Investment, Credit, Loan, or Mortgage.

Budget

Personal Capital’s budgeting tool pales in comparison to YNAB. You can see where your money is going, but you cannot set goals. We recommend ignoring this area and sticking to YNAB for budgeting.

Cash flow

The Cash Flow widget in the dashboard shows how much funds have been transferred and withdrawn from your accounts in the last 30 days.

Selecting the Cash Flow link will take you to a more detailed graph. By default, it includes data from all your accounts except :

loan or mortgage accounts
Transactions classified as transfers
< li> Credit Card Payments
401k Contributions
Savings
Securities Trading

You can also select Revenue or Expense to view charts organized by category and time period.

Once again, YNAB offers similar reports, especially if you have the Toolkit extension for the YNAB browser. If you really want to use Personal Capital to track this information, you need to categorize your transactions so that they appear in the correct categories.

Portfolio balance

The Portfolio Balance dashboard widget shows the balance in your investment accounts for the last 90 days. More on this below.

Market Movers

This dashboard widget displays a daily snapshot of your investments (called “Your Index”) compared to the S&P 500 Index, US stocks, foreign equities and US bond markets.

Retirement Savings

The retirement savings widget shows you how much you need to save each month until the end of the calendar year to meet your retirement savings goals.

Read more about retirement savings below.

Emergency Fund

According to Personal Capital, your emergency fund is the total amount you have in your listed bank accounts, which is not nearly as useful as having a budget tier dedicated to your emergency fund. Again, we recommend using YNAB to track your emergency fund.

Debt repayment

The Debt Payoff widget shows the progress in repaying loans for the current year.

Click on the Debt Settlement link to view a list of transactions included in the schedule.

Banking Tools

The Banking menu contains links to Cash Flow, Budgeting, Accounts and Open Account. We have described cash flow and budgeting above. The Invoices page displays all upcoming invoices from your linked accounts.

Open Account opens a page where you can sign up for the Personal Capital Cash program, which is designed to provide you with higher interest rates than traditional banking products.

Investing Tools

Personal Capital investment tools are what you need.

Holdings

As with the Market Drivers section, Holdings show your investments in comparison to other indices such as the S&P 500.

Below the ownership chart, you will find a list of your holdings, marked with a ticker, and information on the number of shares you own, share price, day-to-day changes, and total value.

Balances

As you would expect, Balances displays the balances of each of your investment accounts for the time period you choose.

Efficiency

Performance shows how each of your accounts is performing in each asset class.

Below the chart is a list of your accounts and information about cash flows, income, expenses, changes over time, and the balance of each account.

Distribution

Distribution shows how your investments are distributed across asset classes.

You can delve deeper into each asset class for more information on what types of investments you have in that class.

This is especially useful if you invest in index funds and want to know how they are invested.

US Industries

This section displays a bar chart showing the US sectors you invest in, such as technology, industry, and healthcare.

If you have a 401K account or another investment account that does not have a stock code, you can manually specify which sectors of that account are invested in.

Planning Tools

Personal Capital’s scheduling tools are some of its best features, in particular the retirement planner.

Retirement Planner

First, you tell the retirement professional when you want to retire. Then add your expected income events (such as retirement, social security, or property sales) and your spending goals during retirement. He will use Monte Carlo simulations to predict your chances of success.

You can create multiple scenarios with different assumptions. What if you want to retire early? How will a few years of part-time work affect your retirement? This tool will help you imagine different options for the future.

Savings Planner

The Savings Planner will tell you if you are nearing your savings goal. It breaks down your savings into taxable, deferred, and tax-free categories.

You will also see a list of all your investment accounts and the type of each account, the amount saved last year, the amount saved this year, and the account balance.

Pension Fee Analyzer

The Pension Fee Analyzer displays information about the fees associated with your investments, to the extent that Personal Capital has access to this information. At the very least, this is an easy way to view the spending ratios for each of your funds.

Investment verification and money management

Finally, the “Investment Verification” and “Capital Management” sections are essentially just an advertisement for the services of a financial advisor Personal Capital. You can schedule a “free” call to a consultant, but be careful: once they identify you as a potential paying client, Personal Capital will relentlessly haunt you. For most users, it makes more sense to use free tools and manage their money on their own.

Best Alternative to YNAB and Mint – A Review

4 Ways To Password Protect PDF on Mac

September 19, 2021 by feecalculator_x6rbod

4 Ways To Password Protect PDF on Mac.

PDF is the most commonly used format for published documents. Its availability on all OS platforms and all devices makes it a common platform for the exchange of any document. From a security point of view, PDF is generally a read-only format and its contents cannot be easily edited, but sometimes you feel the need to password protect your PDF so that no one can access the content at all. Or, if you are sending a file to someone, you want only that person to be able to read the content.

How to Put a Password on a PS4 Account

If you have any doubts about protecting your PDFs, it depends on what type of protection you have applied to your file. If you use a simple third-party application to set a password to open a file, it could be hacked by an application that does not recognize this locking function. You may even find that your browser can directly open the password-protected PDF file you just received by email. To avoid hacking, I recommend that you use software that encrypts the contents of your file (preferably 128-bit), not just a simple password.

Method 1: Password protect the PDF file on Mac natively

Step 1:

Find and open the PDF on your system using the default Preview application. The file must be open for you to set a password.

Step 2:

Click the File tab on the menu bar and look for the Export option. Not to be confused with Export to PDF.

Step 3:

Click Export to see options for saving duplicate files. The process saves a duplicate file to the destination of your choice.

The fourth step:

Check the box in front of Encrypt to assign an access code to the file. The set access code will be applied to the new file. The original file will remain unprotected as before, or if you had a password for the original file, it will remain intact and unaffected. The preview uses RC4 128-bit encryption.

Read: PDF Editors Without Watermarks For All Platforms

Method 2: Password protect the PDF on Mac with Pages

Most PDF documents are created using editing software and then exported to PDFs. If you are in the process of creating a document that you later want to convert to a password-protected PDF file, you do not need to spend energy saving the PDF and then following the steps above to fully export another PDF. You can do it right here on Pages, let’s see how.

Read : How to Share your WiFi without Sharing Password on Android Q