Existing Signal users may be receiving more notifications than usual. “Jack has a signal”, “Cathy has a signal”, “Miriam has a signal”, all pings show phone contacts who are entering the secure messaging application.
These pings reflect the fact that there was an influx of new users. Known for its end-to-end encryption and independent structure as a non-profit organization run by a foundation – not a large technology company – Signal was previously the method of communication chosen by activists, people in the hacking community and other stakeholders about privacy.
Recently, it has become popular.
Recently, Facebook’s WhatsApp – which is encrypted from end to end using Signal protocols – began issuing a privacy update notification to users, making it clear that it is sharing user data with Facebook (which actually comes doing for years). This prompted people to look elsewhere for a secure communication app, with the help of Elon Musk’s January 7 tweet, which simply said, “Use Signal”.
Over the past three years, Signal has also invested in more infrastructure and resources to support its users. That’s a good thing: Signal first saw an increase in the number of users in the spring, when people who participated in anti-racist protests over the George Floyd murder realized how the police were watching closely and asking companies to hand over user data. It has only become more popular since then. At the time of this writing, Signal is at the top of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and its two-factor authentication integration system was delayed on Thursday because many people were trying to sign up.
So, thinking about joining Signal? In short: if you care about privacy, it’s a good idea. Here’s what you need to know.
OK, so what is a signal?
Signal is a free privacy and voice messaging app that you can use on Apple and Android smartphones and via the desktop. All you need is a phone number to enter. You can send text messages or make voice or video calls with friends, either one by one or in groups, and use emoji reactions or stickers as in other apps. But there is a big difference: the signal is really very private.
Is the Signal app safe?
Communications at Signal are encrypted from end to end, which means that only the people in the messages can see the content of those messages – not even the company itself. Even the sticker packs have their own special encryption.
Signal created the encryption protocol (basically, the technical way of implementing this) that other companies, including WhatsApp and Skype, use. Simply put, it is the gold standard of privacy.
Is Signal really private?
Yes – and that privacy goes beyond the fact that the content of your messages is encrypted. You can set messages to disappear after certain customizable time intervals. In addition, Signal does not collect virtually any data about its users. The only information you give the app is your phone number, and the company is even working on a way to unlink it from using Signal, by creating encrypted contact servers. If the police come to beat Signal for data about its users, they will actually say that they have no data to deliver.
Part of the reason he doesn’t collect data is because Signal is a non-profit organization, not a for-profit company. It has no advertising, so there is no incentive to track users. Instead, it is financed by donations and private investors – one of whom had a strong personal interest in making a privacy-oriented platform. Although a small group of privacy activists created Signal in 2013, it has grown in recent years. In 2018, WhatsApp founder Brian Acton donated $ 50 million to create the Signal Foundation, which now manages Signal. Acton embarked on a mission to create a truly private messaging service after Facebook acquired WhatsApp and he reportedly left the company in the midst of clashes with Facebook over how it was undermining WhatsApp privacy.
Signal vs. WhatsApp (and other messaging apps).
Both Signal and WhatsApp are encrypted from end to end using the same technology. This means that the content of messages you send and calls you receive are private. However, Facebook collects a lot of other information in the form of usage statistics, metadata and more. And there is no longer a way to cancel.
Signal doesn’t have as many sophisticated personalization features as WhatsApp as backgrounds. But when it comes to true privacy, there is no comparison.
You can see a complete list of alternatives to Facebook messaging services here.
Another application that is gaining popularity is Telegram. Telegram says it’s also about privacy, but it actually has many disadvantages. Telegram messages are not encrypted from end to end by default. In addition, the fact that private groups are unlimited in size, can be linked together and are not explicitly moderated makes them a focus of toxic and illegal content, such as terrorism and revenge porn (also known as non-consensual pornography) ). Signal also does not moderate the content, but limits groups to 1,000 and has more to do with communicating with people who are real contacts than with groups of strangers like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Where to download the signal
You can find Signal on the Apple App Store or on the Google Play Store. Currently, it is very easy to find, as it is located at the top of the Free Applications table.