What is Signal and Should You Use It?
Signal is a privacy-focused alternative to other messaging apps like WhatsApp. If you want to learn more about Signal, read this guide.
First, we texted, and then we WhatsApp. WhatsApp then got bought out by Facebook, which doesn’t have the greatest record when it comes to privacy. If you feel like the time is right to move on from WhatsApp to the next big thing, there truly are some great options out there. If you’re concerned about keeping your data safe and private, then Signal is one of the best options out there. But what is Signal, exactly? Learn everything you need to know about this not-so-secret messing app here.
What is Signal?
Signal is a messaging app that is similar in many ways to the popular WhatsApp messaging app. You can use it to send text messages in a one-to-one chat or to a group of people. You can also use the app to make voice and video calls.
The app transmits these messages and calls over the internet, and it is free to download and use. There are no limits on the number of messages you can send and no charges for making voice or video calls.
What Makes Signal Different?
The biggest reason that Signal has surged in popularity in recent years is thanks to its strong focus on security and privacy.
Security
Signal is one of the most secure messaging apps out there, thanks to its default end-to-end encryption. This means that your message content is encrypted on its journey from your device through Signal’s server to the recipient. It’s only decrypted when it reaches the recipient’s device.
The upshot of this is that no one other than the person you’re messaging can read your message or listen to your conversation. This includes Signal itself; all of your messages on Signal’s servers are encrypted and can’t be read by anyone at the company.
Some other messaging apps, including WhatsApp, also offer end-to-end encryption. However, Signal takes this one step further by encrypting the sender’s metadata too in what it calls Sealed Sender mode. This means that information about the sender of the message can only be seen by the recipient, adding a further layer of protection.
Privacy
Privacy is also key in Signal. WhatsApp collects a huge amount of your information when you use the app. The privacy policy states that it can collect everything from your IP address to your phone’s battery level.
In comparison, Signal collects almost nothing. The only data it will access from your device is your contact information to find other Signal users. This information is anonymized so that it can’t be directly linked to your identity.
If you want proof of how little information Signal collects, then the FBI can help. In 2021, an official FBI document revealed that the only information they were able to access from Signal, even with court orders and subpoenas, was the date an account was opened and the last time it was used. That’s because this is the only data that Signal has on you.
How Does Signal Compare to Other Apps?
In terms of messaging, Signal offers very similar features to most of its competitors, such as WhatsApp and Telegram. You can send one-to-one messages or create group chats of up to 1,000 people, and WhatsApp offers 1,024. Voice and video chats can include up to 40 participants, and WhatsApp offers 32.
There are apps that can offer more, however. Telegram allows you to create groups of up to 200,000 people and broadcast channels for unlimited followers. It also offers other features, such as bot integrations, that Signal can’t. However, these features are only possible because Telegram doesn’t use end-to-end encryption by default.
When it comes to security and privacy, Signal stands on its own. That same FBI report also provided information about what data is accessible from other messaging apps. Telegram could grant access to data that could be used to identify you, such as phone numbers and IP addresses. WhatsApp shared even more information, with the FBI able to access basic subscriber records, information such as blocked users, source and destination for each message, and even limited message content.
At the moment, Signal is probably one of the top choices when you’re looking for a messaging app that cares about the security and privacy of your data.
What Devices Does Signal Support?
Signal is primarily a mobile app, with versions available for Android, iPhone, and iPad. The only thing you need to start using Signal is a valid mobile number.
There are also desktop clients for Windows, macOS, and even Linux. This allows you to send messages directly from your computer, meaning that if you don’t like typing messages on a small phone screen, you can use your computer keyboard instead.
In order to use these desktop apps, you must first install Signal on your phone and then scan a QR code generated by the desktop app within the Signal phone app to connect your account.
How to Install Signal
You can download Signal from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You can also download Signal for Windows, Signal for Mac, and Signal for Linux.
To use the desktop apps, you’ll need to have installed Signal on your phone first. To install Signal on your phone, launch the app and follow the on-screen instructions to register your account with your phone number. You can verify your number either by SMS or by phone call.
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