You might have heard of WhatsApp and Facebook messenger, but one messaging system you might not have heard about is Signal.
This is an open-source messaging system that requires a phone number and provides secure end-to-end encryption.
Some people will just want an alternative to these popular messengers, especially since WhatsApp has suffered data security breaches in recent years.
However, how secure is this messenger? Can you guarantee that your messages will reach their destination?
What features does it offer that set it apart from other messaging apps? Well, check out our in-depth review to find out!
Price
Free
Version
5.53.8
Category
Communication
Developer
Signal Foundation
Source
iOS, Android
Rating
(4.3)
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Which OS Offers You Signal?
You can get Signal on many different platforms. Here are the main ones:
Windows
Apple Mac
Linux
There are some users who find registering with a phone number offers them more security, however, some have stated that they would prefer to register anonymously or use an email.
If you do register with Signal, then the app will be able to connect you to the existing users in your contact list.
This is much easier for users who do not want to go trawling through numbers to find a certain contact.
What Features Does Signal Have?
Once you have established a connection with someone on your phone, then it will quickly show you a very easy P2P window that will allow you to establish a connection.
You can also customize the interface on your messenger, which makes it much more personal to use than WhatApp.
Here is a list of some of the unique features that you can get with Signal:
Secure connections – as we have mentioned above, this comes with end-to-end encryption, meaning that you won’t have to worry about third parties getting a hold of your data or private conversations. You will know that your connection is secure with a little blue lock icon in the corner.
Emojis – like a lot of other apps, Signal allows you to use emojis to communicate those thoughts and feelings that only require a smiley face.
View-once videos and photos – you can configure the setup on your Signal so that media sent will disappear if it has been viewed once. This is a great feature for additional security.
Group messages – if you are looking for a way to communicate with your family and friends, then you can set up group chats. These chats are also very secure and will allow you to communicate using different icons and emojis.
Percentages – you can view specific data with Signal, such as how many of your sent messages were secure.
View-once and disappearing messages – you can change your settings so that your messages will disappear after a certain length of time. This is great for security and preserving your privacy, even between friends.
Pin locks – you can have pin locks that you need to enter before you open secure chats. This will give you that added protection if your phone falls into the wrong hands.
Private stickers – this allows you to trade fun stickers with your family and friends with complete security. These stickers will disappear after a certain amount of time.
Signal has a clear and easy-to-use interface, with the enhanced security measures being very appealing to anyone who wants that optimum level of privacy and security.
Why Use Signal?
Signal is an extremely secure messaging app that has a great design and has been reported by researchers of internet security in America, Canada, Germany and Switzerland that the security protocol for the app is very sound.
The fact that you have to register with your phone number some users also find is an extra security measure that they prefer to other applications.
However, some users believe this is an extra invasion of privacy and do not want to provide Signal with their phone numbers.
The information that you are sending is stored on a data server that is allocated to each individual server as soon as they register to use Signal. This data does not contain the content of the messages, simply the date of the messages sent.
This is very different from messaging apps that keep the details of your contacts on a central server.
This means that if there is a data breach on this server, then all of your details could be accessed.
There was a bug reported in the software of Signal that allowed third parties to eavesdrop on conversations between users.
However, this bug was fixed on the day that it was reported. This is a testament to how quickly Signal can respond to and fix these errors.
The fact that this app is free is also a great benefit to anyone in the market for a new messaging system. Out of all the free apps that are available, this is one of the most secure.
Pros
End-to-end encryption – this will ensure that you will get the optimum protection between one user and another. This is great for anyone who wants a complete secure messaging system.
Encryption algorithms – this will protect the content of your messages, videos and photos.
Open-source software – this means that the software itself is ever-changing, coming up with new and dynamic methods of securing and protecting your data.
Self-destroying messages – some people do not like the idea of their messages remaining on someone else’s phone forever. With this elf-destroying feature, you can erase all awkward exchanges.
Free-of-charge – nobody wants to have to pay for a decent messaging app, so it will be a relief to most people that this feature-heavy app is completely free.
Cons
Requires phone number – some users do not feel comfortable handing over this information to a company.
Conclusion
We hope that our review of the Signal app has given you a better idea of what they provide and whether it is worth giving it a try.
This app is very secure and has received rave reviewers from users and industry professionals.