Elon Musk wants you to use Signal instead of Facebook. See how the app works

Elon Musk, technology mogul, widely known for launching cars into the sun’s orbit how is he for defending against COVID-19 security measures – accessed Twitter last Thursday to criticize Facebook for its latest privacy policy updates for its supposedly secure encrypted messaging app, WhatsApp. Musk instead, recommended users choose the Signal encrypted messaging app.

The tweet was retweeted by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Shortly after, Signal tweeted that he was working to deal with the increase in new users.

Verification codes are currently overdue at a number of providers because many new people are trying to sign in now (we can barely register our enthusiasm). We are working with operators to resolve this as soon as possible. Hold on.

– Sign (@signalapp) January 7, 2021

The Signal app has been downloaded almost 1.3 million times on Monday, according to data from Apptopia, a tracking company. The app had been downloaded an average of 50,000 times a day before Musk’s tweet. A Signal spokesman said the report underestimates the number of downloads the service is experiencing.

Musk’s Twitter endorsement also caused the biotech company Signal Advance’s stock to skyrocket, despite the fact that it has nothing to do with Signal, which is not a publicly traded company.

Is that what stock analysts mean when they say the market is showing mixed signals?

It is understandable that people want to invest in Signal’s record growth, but it’s not us. We are an independent 501c3 and our only investment is in your privacy. pic.twitter.com/9EgMUZiEZf

– Sign (@signalapp) January 8, 2021

This is not the first time Musk has publicly fought with Facebook over privacy issues. In 2018, he not only had his own personal Facebook page removed, but also those of his companies Tesla and SpaceX. His opinion on the long battle between Signal and WhatsApp is not wrong, however.

Both of encrypted messaging apps was found have security bugs over the years that have been resolved. For years, WhatsApp has openly collected certain user data to share with the parent company on Facebook. His latest policy change just expands on that. The signal, on the other hand, has a history of struggle any entity requesting your data, and adds features to make it more anonymous you whenever possible.

Here are the basic principles of Signal that you should know if you are interested in using the secure messaging app.

What is a sign and how does the encrypted message work

Signal is a typical one-touch installation app that can be found in your regular markets, like Google Play Store and Apple App Store, and works like a regular text messaging app. It is an open source development provided free by the nonprofit Signal Foundation, and has been used for many years by high-profile privacy icons like Edward Snowden.

The main function of Signal is to send text, video, audio and image messages protected by end-to-end encryption, after verifying your phone number and allowing you to independently verify the identity of other Signal users. You can also use it to make voice and video calls, either one to one or in a group. For a deeper dive into the pitfalls and potential limitations of encrypted messaging applications, CNET’s Explanator of Laura Hautala it’s a lifesaver. But for our purposes, the key to Signal is encryption.

Despite the buzz around the term, end-to-end encryption is simple: unlike normal SMS messaging apps, it distorts your messages before sending them and only disorganizes them for the verified recipient. This prevents law enforcement, your mobile operator and other spying entities from being able to read the content of your messages, even when they intercept them (which happens more often than you think)

When it comes to privacy, it’s hard to beat Signal’s offer. It does not store your user data. And in addition to its encryption capabilities, it offers extended on-screen privacy options, including application-specific locks, blank notification pop-ups, anti-surveillance tools to blur the face and messages that disappear. Occasional errors have proven that technology is far from bulletproof, of course, but Signal’s overall reputation and results arc has kept it at the top of the list of identity protection tools for everyone who understands privacy.

For years, Signal’s main privacy challenge was not in its technology, but in its wider adoption. Sending an encrypted Signal message is great, but if the recipient is not using Signal, your privacy may be null. Think of it as the collective immunity created by vaccines, but for your messaging privacy.

Now that Musk and Dorsey’s endorsement has sent a wave of users to get a chance to increase privacy, however, that challenge may be a thing of the past.