Is Line Safe? Security Review
3/5
Overall Safety Score
★
★
★
★
★
Verdict: Line offers solid encryption through its Letter Sealing feature and is reasonably secure. A significant 2023 data breach raised concerns, but the company has invested in remediation.
Line is a messaging app dominant in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia with over 200 million monthly active users. It has evolved into a super-app offering payments, news, and services.
Security Ratings Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | 4/5 | |
| Privacy | 3/5 | |
| Track Record | 2/5 |
Security Features
- Letter Sealing end-to-end encryption for messages and calls
- Two-factor authentication
- Passcode lock
- Message unsend feature
- Hidden chat feature
Privacy Concerns
- Super-app model collects data across services (payments, news, shopping)
- Data sharing between Line and Yahoo Japan (LY Corporation)
- Extensive metadata collection
- Government data requests from Japanese and other Asian authorities
Past Security Incidents
- In 2023, a major breach exposed personal data of over 440,000 users through compromised credentials at a Naver Cloud subcontractor
- 2021 revelations that Line allowed engineers in China to access user data without adequate disclosure
How to Stay Safe Using Line
- Enable Letter Sealing encryption
- Set a passcode lock on the app
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Review connected apps and services
- Limit data shared with Line's extended services
Safer Alternatives
- Signal (better privacy)
- WhatsApp (wider global adoption)
Last updated: February 10, 2026