I don't have the answer to those but one that I know protect you even more is SimpleX. You can listen to this podcast with the founder where he explains everything.
Opt Out: SimpleX chat and how privacy aligns with the future of computing w/ Evgeny from SimpleX
Episode webpage: https://optoutpod.com/episodes/s3e02-simplexchat/
There is no way around. If you know how to buy a house without credit let me know.