Signal is a free instant messaging program for mobile devices that в compareи with its competitors is distinguished primarily by its great attention to user privacy.

What is Signal and how does it work?

Instant messaging is a very practical tool used by billions of people around the world. Thanks to wireless connectivity, remote contact with loved ones is very fast. Currently, Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp are the most commonly installed applications, but other market players are trying to catch up in terms of downloads.

The Signal messenger is becoming increasingly popular among users. This software was created by the Signal Foundation. Like other applications available on Google Play and the App Store, Signal uses an Internet connection to exchange messages in the form of text or voice, as well as to transfer multimedia files.

However, there is an aspect where Signal should be distinguished from other applications. The messenger, according to the manufacturer, guarantees complete confidentiality. You need a phone number to register, and all uploaded content is end-to-end and peer-to-peer encrypted. This is an innovative technology that prevents third parties from reading and modifying the conversation. In addition, you have a number of additional features at your disposal, such as hiding your location in conversations and limiting the number of times the recipient can view images or videos.

Is Signal really a private messenger?

Wondering if Signal really protects your data and allows you to communicate with your friends safely? You can dismiss the worry as this messenger is considered to be the best software on the market in terms of user protection. The aforementioned message encoding standard used in the program effectively prevents attempts to intercept transmitted text and multimedia files. Their decryption always takes place on the device of the recipient of the correspondence, so unauthorized persons have no access to it.

In addition, unlike Facebook's tools, Signal's optimization and development of new solutions is not done by tech giants. This is a huge advantage, as large social networks usually share confidential information with their business partners. This type of practice is designed to tailor ads to your preferences, but is very intrusive on privacy. With Signal, you don't have to worry about that.

Signal vs. Messenger and WhatsApp

Should I download and install the Signal app on my smartphone instead of using Messenger or WhatsApp? Users are divided - young people usually prefer a messenger connected to their Facebook account, while older people prefer WhatsApp, one of the few well-known apps. Signal is popular, for example, among people whose professions involve protecting important conversations.

If you need complete privacy and want to keep in touch with your friends, Signal seems to be a better option than Messenger or WhatsApp. Encrypting digital correspondence and the ability to restrict the recipient's access to sent files means you don't have to worry about security. In the case of the two messengers, you have to accept that they will collect a lot of information about you and send it to Facebook.

How to switch from Whatsapp to Signal?

When moving from one messenger to another, it's hard to take everything with you. However, users who want to start using Signal when they leave WhatsApp can migrate all their WhatsApp groups to Signal.

How do I migrate WhatsApp group members to Signal? The whole procedure takes place in a few simple steps:

• Open the Signal app and click the three dots in the upper right corner to create a new group in the app.
• Suggest a group name and add contacts to include.
• Open a new group chat window in Signal, press the three dots again, go to Settings, then Group Link, and then click Share.
• Open a group chat in WhatsApp, paste the link to the group, and you're done.

Signal vs. WhatsApp - what does Signal lack?

The first thing that users who want to switch to Signal notice is that Signal does not have a separate desktop program. This is because of the message encryption created by Signal's founders. The only thing they could offer us at the moment is desktop applications that connect to a smartphone and synchronize messages locally.

Signal is a WhatsApp-like app, but Signal still has some work to do in the case of group calls. This app still has a lot less stickers and gifs than WhatsApp.

True, we can use both programs simultaneously. However, if we don't want our data to be shared with Facebook, we should consider Signal, which has recently been called the most secure messenger.

Conclusion. So, does Signal messenger deserve your attention? Of course, yes, if you care about security and privacy on the Internet. The end-to-end encryption of messages is a huge advantage of the program, and it also respects the privacy of users. The fact that you and the recipient of your information can see digital conversations means that you don't have to worry about attacks from cybercriminals. Despite its shortcomings, Signal proves to be an interesting alternative to Messenger and WhatsApp, so give it a try.