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)
🔒
Line Has Your Data — Take It Back
Apps like Line share your data with brokers who sell it. Aura finds and removes your personal information from data broker sites automatically.
Remove Your Data with Aura →14-day free trial • 60-day money-back guarantee
Protect Yourself Further
Last updated: February 10, 2026